Scammer jailed after elderly East Kilbride couple duped out of £24,000

A fraudster has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after an elderly couple from East Kilbride was conned out of £24,000 by scammers. The couple, aged 73 and 82, fell victim to a scheme where they were convinced by a caller, claiming to be a senior CID officer named Malcolm, that money had been stolen from their bank accounts by a rogue banker. The caller instructed the couple to transfer thousands of pounds to accounts linked to the scam. The scammer, Paul McEnhill, 28, of Newton Mearns, along with his accomplices, participated in this fraudulent activity between October 5 and 7, 2022.

Carla McGuire, the prosecutor, revealed that the elderly man received a call from someone with an English accent purporting to be CID officer Malcolm. The caller alleged that money had been stolen from the couple’s accounts and requested them to transfer money to rectify the situation. Despite initial suspicions, the couple made several cash transfers to accounts belonging to McEnhill and his then-girlfriend. The elderly man was coerced to provide his card number, leading to further unauthorized withdrawals from his account.

The court was informed that attempts were made to transfer large sums of money in quick succession, leading to the bank staff becoming suspicious and alerting the authorities. While £9,500 was recovered and returned to the couple, the remaining funds remain unrecovered. In sentencing McEnhill, Sheriff John Speir remarked on the predatory nature of the crime, preying on vulnerable individuals due to their age, causing significant distress to the victims.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of scams targeting the elderly and highlights the importance of remaining vigilant against such fraudulent activities. It is crucial for individuals, especially the elderly, to verify the identities of callers before sharing any personal or financial information. Authorities continue to urge the public to report any suspicious communications to prevent falling victim to such scams in the future.

**Summary:**
A scammer has been jailed for duping an elderly couple from East Kilbride out of £24,000 in a fraudulent scheme involving a fake CID officer. The elderly victims were convinced to transfer money to accounts linked to the scam before alerting the authorities. The court sentenced the fraudster to 18 months in prison, emphasizing the predatory nature of targeting vulnerable individuals. The case underscores the importance of staying cautious and verifying the identities of unknown callers to prevent falling victim to scams.