A “despicable” con man has been jailed for over 13 years after cheating pensioners out of over £200,000.
Derek Moore, 42, who posed as a police officer and brank fraud investigator, scammed elderly people across Scotland.
He would claim to have seen fradulent activity in accounts of vulnerable pensioners and later trick them into withdrawing or transferring cash.
Moore is being banged up for 13-and-a-half years after admitting to five fraud charges, two charges of illegal possession of shotguns and a further offence of being concerned in the supply of heroin.
He was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh
PA
Julie Ann McQuade, 31, Moore’s girlfriend, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for assisting him.
The High Court in Edinburgh was told that scams occurred between August 2021 and February 2022.
The offences stretched from Ayrshire to Dundee and Renfrewshire to Shetland.
In one case, Moore took possession of two guns while impersonating a police officer.
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Julie Ann McQuade, Moore’s girlfriend, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for assisting him
POLICE SCOTLAND
Another saw the 42-year-old call an 83-year-old pretending to be from her bank fraud team.
He persuaded her to take out £15,000 and give him the money.
Moore also encouraged her to transfer a further £20,000 to another bank account.
Police Scotland totalled Moore’s crimes at over £214,000.
Derek Moore tried to impersonate a police officer (stock image)
PA
Detective Inspector Ross Black said: “Moore and McQuade targeted the elderly and vulnerable members of our communities, and it is right that they will now face the consequence of their despicable actions.”
He added: “These scams are not always easy to spot and anyone can be fooled.
“These criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations, and the police.
“Often they have details about a person they shouldn’t and convince people they are legitimate.”
Moore and McQuade pleaded guilty in May after a police raid at the homes in Hamilton and Rutherglen brought the duo to justice in February 2022.
Defence Counsel Graham Robertson claimed Moore was “very much a foot soldier” rather than the mastermind.
Meanwhile, McQuade’s Counsel Kelly Duling maintained the 31-year-old was a vulnerable person who had a traumatic background.
Judge Lord Young labelled the crimes as “a highly sophisticated operation which involved significant levels of planning and deception”.