Fraudster emptied mother’s account

A callous fraudster duped her own elderly mother into handing over bank cards and pin numbers so she could steal nearly £2,000 from her.

Elizabeth Reid, 43, targeted a series of frail and vulnerable victims.

Reid told her 74-year-old mother she needed her bank cards and account details to buy her food shopping while acting as her carer.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard yesterday Reid Jr was emptying the cash from her mother’s two bank accounts.

The court was told Reid – who has a previous conviction for plundering the bank account of an elderly alzheimer’s sufferer – had also stolen from 92 and 87-year-old victims.

Reid, Old Perth Road, Milnathort, admitted fraudulently obtaining £1,982.42 from her mother between December 31 and January 29.

Reid admitted using the cards in various locations in Kinross, Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline to obtain nearly £2,000 in under a month.

She admitted that on various occasions between February 5 and 24 she stole £600 from a 92-year-old in Churchill Road, Kinross.

She further admitted stealing £120 in cash from an 87-yearold in Station Road, Kinross, on February 20.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said it was his client’s position that there were “family issues” in the background to the offences.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis deferred sentence until next month for the preparation of social work reports and Reid was remanded in custody.

In 2018, Reid admitted befriending an elderly alzheimer’s sufferer so she could steal her bank card and plunder cash from her savings.

She stopped the confused 76-year-old in the street and managed to convince her to invite Reid back to her home.

Brazen Reid then managed to pass herself off as an old friend when a carer visited the victim, Perth Sheriff Court was told in that case.

Reid admitted stealing a bank card from an address in the town’s Whyte Court before using the card and pin number to steal £300.

Reid was ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay £300 compensation to her victim.