A serial scammer from Hertfordshire has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after defrauding a neighbour out of £118,000 in a Spanish property scheme.
Margarita Clark, was sentenced to 43 months behind bars at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, September 13, after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.
In 2018, the 72-year-old befriended a woman in her 70s, who had moved to the area after her husband passed away, with the pair regularly meeting for coffee and lunch.
Following a discussion about savings, Clark fabricated a story about purchasing property in Spain and offered the victim a chance to invest, in exchange for a cut of the interest.
Over the next two years, she continued to make up bogus property stories to acquire further cash from the victim, totalling around £118,000.
The money was then used to purchase high end clothing items and new car, with Clark even persuading the victim to pay for a lavish trip to Dubai.
In October 2020, a family member of the victim - who found out Clark had been jailed for 40 months in 2014 after conning friends out of £2.5 million - contacted the police to raise concerns about fraud taking place.
An extensive and complex investigation was launched by the East Herts Local Crime Unit, with support from specialist fraud officers.
Clark, of Fourways in Bayford, was subsequently arrested and charged in September 2023.
Detective Constable Emma Cozens, who led the investigation, said: "Clark is a cold and calculating individual.
"She took advantage of her victim, who was grieving the loss of her husband and had only recently moved to the area.
"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 Clark is now behind bars.
"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."
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