East Herts woman jailed for £100,000 fraud
Margarita Clark, 72, has been sentenced for defrauding a former neighbour out of £118,000 in a Spanish property scam
A woman from East Hertfordshire has been sentenced to 43 months in prison after defrauding a former neighbour of over £100,000 in a fake Spanish property investment scam.
The sentencing took place at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, 13 September, where 72-year-old Margarita Clark was convicted of fraud by false representation. Clark befriended the victim, a woman in her 70s, in 2018 after the latter moved to the area following her husband's death.
The pair became close, frequently meeting for coffee and lunch. During their conversations, Clark fabricated a property investment opportunity in Spain, offering the victim a chance to invest and promising a share of the interest.
Over the course of two years, Clark extracted further funds from the victim, totalling approximately £118,000. The money was used to fund personal luxury items, including expensive clothing, a new car, and even a lavish trip to Dubai.
The fraud was uncovered in October 2020 when a concerned family member conducted a Google search and discovered that the defendant had been jailed previously, in 2014, for defrauding friends of £2.5 million.
An investigation was launched by the East Herts Local Crime Unit, supported by specialist fraud officers, which led to Clark’s arrest and charge in September 2023.
Detective Constable Emma Cozens, who led the investigation, described Clark as "a cold and calculating individual" and noted that "she took advantage of her victim, who was grieving the loss of her husband." She added, “The victim genuinely believed she had made a close friend and was left shocked and heartbroken when the truth was discovered. I’m pleased that the defendant is now behind bars.”
Cozens urged the public to report incidents of fraud, stating, “Discovering you’ve been a victim of fraud can have a devastating impact. Many people are too worried or embarrassed to report what has happened to them. If you think you may have been approached in similar circumstances, please do contact police. We take all reports seriously and have specialist teams on hand to help.”
Information can be reported online, via the police web chat, or by calling the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, reports can be made anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or their online form.