A woman who exploited elderly victims in their 90s, convincing them to hand over their bank cards before going on luxury spending sprees, has been jailed.
Lisa Macardle, 39, orchestrated a courier fraud scam in which she posed as a trusted representative from a bank. Her victims received phone calls falsely informing them that their credit cards needed to be cancelled, and a courier was sent to collect the old ones. Once in possession of the cards, she made fraudulent purchases transfers and withdrawals.
How the Scam Unfolded
Macardle’s scam targeted elderly and vulnerable individuals across the UK. Victims, aged between 91 and 98, were deceived through fraudulent phone calls from scammers claiming to be their bank. These calls convinced them their cards were compromised and needed urgent cancellation.
Under this pretext, the fraudsters arranged for a courier—in this case, Macardle herself—to collect the cards, promising replacements would arrive soon. However, instead of helping them, Macardle used the stolen cards to fund her shopping sprees and withdraw cash from ATMs.
Targeting the Elderly
On June 17, a 98-year-old woman received a phone call on her landline from a fraudster posing as her bank. She was told her bank cards needed urgent cancellation and that a courier would collect them. Two days later, Macardle arrived at the victim’s home, collected the stolen card, and immediately set to work draining funds. She withdrew £500 from an ATM in Bournemouth and spent £3,838.01 on Apple products at John Lewis in Southampton. She also attempted to transfer large sums into her business account.
On June 23, a 96-year-old man received a similar phone call, again claiming there was an issue with his card. Later that day, Macardle turned up at his home in Northampton, convincing him to hand over his card. She withdrew £500 from an ATM and splashed out £1,648 at Currys in Milton Keynes, again on Apple products. She later attempted another Apple purchase worth £3,305.99 at Currys in Aylesbury, but the transaction was declined.
On June 28, Macardle used the same scam to target her third victim, a 91-year-old woman. After collecting the stolen card in Hampshire, she withdrew £250 from an ATM and made a £3,786 purchase at Currys in Aylesbury. She also attempted to buy a £1,915 piece of jewellery but the payment was unsuccessful.
Fraud On The Rise
Lisa Macardle’s case is a prime example of the growing issue of both courier fraud and credit card fraud. These types of crimes have increased dramatically in recent years, with fraudsters specifically targeting elderly victims.
According to Action Fraud, over 3,600 cases of courier fraud were reported in the UK in 2024, leading to losses exceeding £12 million. The true scale of the problem is likely much higher, as many victims feel too embarrassed or fearful to report the scams.
How Courier Fraud Works
Courier fraud is a method used by criminals to steal money, credit cards, or valuables by pretending to be from a bank, police force, or another trusted institution. It typically follows a pattern:
- The Call: The victim receives a phone call from a scammer pretending to be from their bank. The scammer claims there has been fraudulent activity on the account or that the victim’s card is compromised.
- Creating Fear: The scammer urges immediate action, convincing the victim to cancel their card or move their money to a “safe” account.
- The Fake Courier: The fraudster arranges for a “courier” to collect the old card, PIN, or even cash from the victim’s home.
- The Theft: Once the criminals have the card, they use it to withdraw money, make purchases, or transfer funds into fraudulent accounts.
Justice Served?
Macardle pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. A punishment some may argue does not reflect the full impact of her crimes. Despite the sentencing, many believe fraudsters are not being punished severely enough. Especially considering the financial and emotional devastation they cause. Elderly victims often lose their life savings, experience severe stress, and struggle to regain trust in financial institutions.
This case highlights the urgent need for greater fraud awareness. Many people still do not realise that banks never send couriers to collect cards, request PINs, or ask customers to transfer funds. To protect yourself or your loved ones, always verify any suspicious calls directly with your bank using official contact details. If you receive a call claiming to be from your bank, hang up and call the number on your card.
