Couple Scammed Out of £230,000 in Lavish Property Fraud
A couple in Islington fell victim to a ruthless scam after being duped into fraudulent financial investments totaling over £230,000 between January and May 2018.
Mastermind Haydee Daniel Jailed for 4½ Years
Haydee Daniel, 55, of Valley Road, Henley-on-Thames, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday, 26 October. She was found guilty following a four-week trial that ended on 24 October.
PC Evan McLoughlin from the Met Economic Crime Unit said: “The impact of this crime on the victims is absolutely shocking. Daniel masterminded a sophisticated and convincing investment fraud to take advantage of vulnerable victims on a large scale.”
“She used the stolen cash to fund a lavish lifestyle, showing utter contempt for her victims. Daniel showed no remorse and even tried to delay her trial for over three years by faking multiple medical conditions, costing the NHS heavily.”
How the Scam Unfolded
- Daniel befriended a couple with a sick child, flaunting her fancy lifestyle to gain their trust.
- She claimed she had connections to Barclays Bank, offering “cheap” properties through a fictitious contact — a role she herself played.
- To qualify, victims were told their credit scores were too low, so Daniel would act as their guarantor.
- They had to prove they could cover mortgage payments during times without income by sending money to a “ring-fenced” bank account Daniel controlled.
- The victims transferred £230,496, believing the funds were safe and would be returned once approved.
- In reality, Daniel drained the money immediately on luxury rentals, goods, and passing it to acquaintances.
- The couple was left penniless and buried in debt to their family, who they had borrowed from hoping the deal would go through.
Victims’ Heartbreaking Impact Statement
The victims revealed the huge financial loss was more than just money—it stole their security, future hopes, and endangered their child’s well-being. They described ongoing stress and anxiety wrecking their lives due to Daniel’s deceit.
Daniel’s Lies Exposed
As part of her con, Daniel falsely claimed she had cervical cancer and only 18 months to live, wanting to “help” them before her death. In truth, she was cured decades ago and is still cancer-free.
Police traced the fake contact to Daniel through phone location data near her home. Detailed WhatsApp messages between Daniel and the victims showed the couple’s belief they would receive four properties after handing over the money.
Despite Daniel trying to cover her tracks—including quitting the victims’ WhatsApp group shortly before police interviews—officers recovered over 1,000 pages of messages exposing the fraud.
