Scotland's Crime Queens: Fraudster in £100k diamond ring who made millions out of others' misery

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Lorraine McLaren and her husband Edwin were seen as “saviours” to the cash-strapped homeowners who turned to them in desperation when financial difficulties struck.

But really Edwin used his financial know-how to dupe unsuspecting victims into signing over their houses, which were then sold from under them.

And Lorraine benefited from her husband’s fraudulent scheme to live it up in a £762,000 home in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, with lavish holidays in Dubai and private schools for her kids.

Shameless Lorraine even splashed out on a ring worth £100,000 while her victims were left homeless.The duplicitous pair were only caught out after one homeowner raised concerns with police after she didn’t get the full amount for her house in Cowdenbeath in 2012.While Edwin was described as the “driving force” behind the £1.7million scheme, a judge said Lorraine, 55, must have known the money transferred into her bank account came from the proceeds of crime.Following the original complaint, police realised there were more properties linked to the incident and transferred the investigation to the financial unit in Paisley, where many more victims were found.At the height of the inquiry, more than 100 police officers were involved and the huge fraud was uncovered.Using his expertise and financial background, Edwin, who was jailed for 11 years, put together the scheme using adverts in the national press advertising his business as a property solution or home sale solution for anyone struggling.Most of the victims were vulnerable and in financial distress due to illness, bereavement or debt.The McLarens would offer to buy their house or lend them money to clear their debts and told them he would have part-ownership of their property.B