Banking scammer admits conning elderly East Kilbride couple out of £24,000

Paul McEnhill, 27, of Balla Place, Newton Mearns, admitted that, while acting with unknown accomplices, he took part in a fraudulent scheme between October 5 and 7, 2022

An elderly East Kilbride couple were duped out of £24,000 in an online banking scam.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that the man aged 73 and his 82-year-old wife transferred cash to crooks after being warned that a rogue banker had targeted their accounts.

Paul McEnhill, 27, of Balla Place, Newton Mearns, admitted that, while acting with unknown accomplices, he took part in a fraudulent scheme between October 5 and 7, 2022.

His former partner Caitlin Fordyce, 25, of Dovecothall Street, Barrhead, had her not guilty plea to the charge accepted.

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Carla McGuire, prosecuting, said the elderly man was phoned by a male with an English accent who claimed to be a senior CID officer called Malcolm. He said £5000 had been stolen from the OAP's account by a bank employee.

The caller said he would try to retrieve the money but required the pensioner to transfer cash first.

The account given for the transfer belonged to Caitlin Fordyce.

The pensioner was suspicious but was given another number to call for reassurance. He called that number and was told that 'Malcolm' was "the head of Virgin Money CID".

The man was told that money had also been stolen from the account of his wife who suffered poor health.

Subsequently, a number of cash transfers involving four-figure sums were made to accounts belonging to Fordyce and McEnhill.

Ms McGuire told the court: "The elderly man was told that, if a teller questioned him about the transfers, he should say the money was for his grandson and granddaughter.

"At one stage bank staff recognised him and refused to allow a transfer, believing it odd that there should be such large transactions in quick succession."

Police were called in. They discovered that, along with the transfers, sums of money had been taken from the elderly man's account after he'd given the caller his 16-digit card number.

The fiscal said £9500 was retrieved and refunded to the couple. However, the rest of the cash has not been recovered.

Sheriff John Speir deferred sentence on McEnhill until November for a criminal justice social work report and an electronic tagging assessment.

The sheriff also called for an update on the victims' financial position.

He said: "Given their age this must have been a very disturbing experience for them."

Sheriff Speir agreed to continue McEnhill's bail but told him: "You have pleaded guilty to what many view as a predatory financial crime on people who are vulnerable because of their age.

"Be under no illusion - all options, including custody, are open to the court."

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