Fraudster conned Lancashire pensioner out of life savings with lies about abuse, cancer and abortion
A fraudster who preyed on the kindness of a pensioner and stole her life savings with a string of lies has been jailed.
Nadia Hussain tricked 73-year-old Ann Graham into handing over £4,500 after falsely claiming she needed money to escape domestic violence, pay for an abortion and fund cancer treatment.
Hussain first approached Mrs Graham in August 2023, offering to help carry her shopping home.
That same evening she returned claiming she had been beaten by her husband and needed emergency accommodation for herself and her children.
Mrs Graham handed over £35 for a B&B.
Over the next nine weeks Hussain repeatedly returned with new stories designed to exploit the pensioner’s good nature.
She asked for cash and borrowed Mrs Graham’s bank card, claiming she needed food for her children and urgent medical help.
Between September 22 and October 17, 2023, Hussain withdrew more than £3,600 from Mrs Graham’s savings and was given a further £1,000 in cash.
The scam was uncovered when Mrs Graham’s bank raised concerns and alerted police.
Investigators used CCTV, bank records and phone evidence to dismantle Hussain’s claims.
Hussain pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and was jailed for two years at Preston Crown Court last week.
Mrs Graham sadly died in December 2023 and did not live to see the case concluded.
In a victim statement, her family said the ordeal had a profound impact on her and believed it contributed to her death - a view echoed by the sentencing judge.
PC Halleron-Place said: “Ann Graham was a kind-hearted lady who was trying to do the right thing for a person she believed really needed help.
“She was befriended and taken advantage of in the most callous way.
“I welcome this custodial sentence, and I hope it gives Mrs Graham’s family some sense that justice has been done.”