February 2025 Operation Artemis

This morning, officers launched February’s Operation Artemis focussing on fraud and economic crime. In an early morning briefing at police headquarters in Hemlington along with partner agencies, officers gathered to hear about the day’s activities. The briefing was led by Detective Inspector Amanda Badger.

After an elderly person reported being contacted by fraudsters purporting to be from his bank and £3.5k in cash was sent to an address in the Teesside area, officers today went to an address on Ibstone Walk in Stockton where a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation. He remains in police custody.

After reports that approximately nine accounts were hijacked and items worth up to £3k delivered to a Teesside area, officers today attended an address in Guisborough as part of Operation Artemis where a 27-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation. She remains in police custody.

Following a report of a vehicle being purchased via bank transfer worth £28.5k and no vehicle being delivered – officers have today arrested two women aged 35 and 45 in the Middlesbrough area on suspicion of fraud by false representation. They have been taken into police custody.

Along with partner agencies including the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit Network (NEROCU), we are carrying out today’s Operation Artemis focussing on fraud and economic crime.

Today’s action sends a clear message: fraudsters and cybercriminals will be identified and brought to justice. Fraud and cybercrime impact thousands of victims across the UK, often leaving lasting financial and emotional harm. We urge the public to stay vigilant against some of the most common threats:

• Investment fraud – Criminals promise high returns on fake investments, often involving cryptocurrency. Always check firms on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register before parting with money.
• Remote access scams – Scammers pose as tech support from banks or broadband providers, tricking victims into installing software or granting access to their devices. No legitimate company will ever ask for remote access in this way.
• 2FA interception scams – Criminals trigger two-factor authentication (2FA) codes and contact victims pretending to be their bank, email provider, or a trusted service, asking for the code. Never share 2FA codes—legitimate organisations will never ask for them.
• Weak passwords and poor security – Reusing passwords makes accounts vulnerable. Use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords, and enable app-based 2FA instead of SMS where possible for added security.

If you suspect fraud or cybercrime, report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk. Together, we can disrupt criminal networks and protect our communities from harm.

A man was today arrested as part of Operation Artemis after the theft of around £250k was reported to police.

A 61-year-old man from the Middlesbrough area has been arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position and the man remains in police custody at this time. 

A 30-year-old woman from the Stockton area has today been arrested as part of Operation Artemis on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position, after a report of the theft of up to £367k. The woman was taken into police custody.