A TEENAGER was “dragged along” and put to work as a distractor as her mother led a team of scammers in a daring bid to defraud hotels and businesses.
Sonia Malhi, aged 39, used criminal tactics honed on a previous criminal expedition in Chester as she led a team who targeted premises in West Cumbria and across the Lakes.
As partners in crime, including her daughter, Tia, diverted employees’ attention at hotels and other businesses, Sonia Malhi covertly entered card numbers on machines using information from stolen receipts, before completing the default signing process in a fake name.
Between January 22 and 27, 2020, the gang carried out frauds and attempted frauds totalling almost £14,000. They splashed out on rooms at luxury hotels and champagne, although prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court: “More often, refunds are obtained and explanations are given; ‘oh, a member of family has died, we need to go back to Manchester, we don’t need the rooms’.”