A 58-YEAR-OLD woman who allegedly tried to commit £20,000 worth of fraud is accused of having targeted a pensioner.
Catherine Stout, of Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, allegedly befriended the 88-year-old woman and claimed she was starting a new business.
It’s claimed that Stout pretended to her that she was setting up a new business and needed money for it.
She is accused of having convinced the woman to write her a cheque for £2,500 to start up the fictional business.
Stout is then accused of making repeated attempts to have the pensioner transfer £10,000 into her account, again claiming it was to set up the fake business.
This allegedly included going to the bank with the woman on at least two occasions, in an attempt to have the money transferred. Stout also allegedly tried to collect £7,000 from a man called Andrew Kennedy, claiming it was on behalf of the pensioner.
The elderly woman was said to have sold a static caravan to Mr Kennedy for £7,000, and Stout allegedly pretended to him that she was acting on the woman’s behalf and attempted to get him to transfer the cash into her account.
Stout appeared in private at Dundee Sheriff Court.
She made no plea or declaration in relation to four charges on petition.
She is charged with obtaining £2,500 by fraud, by inducing the woman to write her a cheque on April 13, at a property on Queen Street, Broughty Ferry.
Stout is also charged with attempting to obtain £10,000 by fraud, by repeatedly attempting to have the same woman transfer the money into her account, between April 13 and May 20.
The offence is said to have taken place at Stout’s home address, the alleged victim’s home address and Bank of Scotland on Nethergate, in the city centre.
Stout is further charged with attempting to obtain £7,000 by fraud, by attempting to have Andrew Kennedy transfer the money into her account, while claiming she was acting on behalf of the alleged victim, at the pensioner’s home address on May 1.
The case was continued for further investigation.
Stout was released and is to appear at court at a later date.
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