A fraudster who conned pensioners into handing over their cards before she splashed out thousands of pounds on Apple products.
Lisa Macardle, 39, has been handed a two-and-a-half-year-long sentence after she pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation.
Her first victim – a 98-year-old woman – was called by a man who told her that her bank cards must be cancelled and would be collected by a courier in due course.
After Macardle collected the Dorset woman’s card two days later, she went on a spending spree across England.
A fraudster who conned pensioners into handing over their cards before she splashed out thousands of pounds on Apple products
Thames Valley Police
She was found to have withdrawn £500 from an ATM in Bournemouth, shelled out £3,838.01 of the pensioner’s cash on Apple products in Southampton, withdrawn £50 from an ATM in Aylesbury and made an attempt to transfer large sums of money into her business account.
A number of other attempts to make purchases, transfers and withdrawals failed.
Later that year, she deployed similar tactics on her second victim – a 96-year-old man in Northampton.
Once again, the woman went on another splurge as she withdrew £500 from a Leicestershire ATM and made a purchase of Apple products at Currys in Milton Keynes for £1,648.
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She tried to snap up even more Apple products, worth around £3,300 at Currys in Aylesbury but it was in vain as the transaction was unsuccessful.
Her third victim – a 91-year-old woman – received the same tried and tested method, leading the fraudster to attempt to make a number of purchases across Hampshire, Aylesbury and Oxford.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn of the Central Fraud Unit, said: “Courier fraud is a type of fraud where criminals deceive victims into handing over money, valuables, or sensitive information by posing as authorities or trusted individuals.
“In courier fraud, the deception typically unfolds in several stages, often targeting vulnerable or elderly individuals.
Her fraudulent habits funded Macardle’s shopping splurges across England
Thames Valley Police
“Courier fraud preys on the victim’s trust, vulnerability, and fear of authority, making it a particularly insidious form of deception.”
Encouraging others to remain vigilant when giving out sensitive information, he said: “Our message to offenders is clear, we will pursue, arrest and charge you.
He advised people to verify the caller’s identity by contacting the organisation independently, using official contacts.
He has urged individuals to refrain from providing personal or financial details over the phone, encouraging everyone to remain sceptical.