Elderly woman conned out of $9900 after phone scam

Bertha Wiwana Kushell stole the 82-year-old's two bank cards before calling her from a payphone, pretending to be calling from the bank. Photo / 123RF

An elderly Papakura woman was conned out of $9900 after a stranger stole credit cards from her home and later tricked her into handing over the pin number.

Bertha Wiwana Kushell was sentenced to 39 months' imprisonment for burglary and 15 charges of dishonestly using a document for financial advantage.

On July 4 2016, Kushell entered the 82-year-old's Papakura home while she was gardening in the backyard and stole two bank cards.

Kushell was spotted on her way out but showed the victim a letter she was carrying, stating she was looking for another address.

At about 5pm Kushell telephoned the 82-year-old from a payphone, pretending to be calling from the bank.

She asked the victim to look for the missing bank cards, adding that they had been used to withdraw money, and then asked for her pin number in order to cancel them.

Minutes later Kushell used the pin number to withdraw $4000 from an ATM in Papakura and then a further $5900 the following day.

Kushell appeared in the Manukau District Court for this offending last year.

Judge S Patel said aggravating features included the fact it was a premeditated offence against an elderly women in her own home and that a significant amount of money had been taken.

The judge also took into account Kushell's history of burglary and dishonesty convictions.

Mitigating factors included the fact Kushell had worked for Fulton Hogan at the time with the judge stating she clearly had qualities which made her a contributing member of society.

There was no adjustment for a guilty plea because Kushell went to trial.

Judge Patel sentenced Kushell to 39 months' imprisonment.