A man and woman have been sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh following a large-scale fraud investigation across Scotland.

Derek Moore, 42, received a sentence of 13 years and six months, while Julie Ann McQuade was sentenced to two years and six months for offences including fraud, theft, and impersonating a police officer.

The pair pled guilty to the fraudulent scheme on 31 May 2024. Investigations by Ayrshire police led to their arrests after properties were searched in Hamilton and Rutherglen in February 2022.

Moore and McQuade were found responsible for stealing over £214,000 from members of the public, predominantly targeting elderly and vulnerable individuals. The duo would call unsuspecting victims, posing as police officers, and alerting them to supposed fraudulent activity on their bank accounts. Under the guise of verifying the victims’ identities, they were able to gain access to their accounts and steal funds.

Moore and McQuade targeted the elderly and vulnerable members of our communities, and it is right that they will now face the consequence of their despicable actions,” said Detective Inspector Ross Black, who led the investigation.

He further urged the public to be cautious, stating: “If in doubt, hang up and contact the bank using the phone number on the back of your card or official paperwork.”

Police continue to advise people to be aware of scams and to stay vigilant, as these types of frauds are becoming increasingly common.