Beyonce Lazarus, 26, has been spared jail after admitting to fraud by false representation and conspiring to steal. She targeted worried parents by sending mass text messages pretending to be their children who had lost their phones, a scheme known as the 'hi mum' scam.
Lazarus, who worked at a dental surgery, would request money from unsuspecting parents for new mobile phones or repairs. The Inner London Crown Court heard that she sent tens of thousands of bulk spam messages and made £34,252 from the scheme. Investigators, however, believe the actual amount could be significantly higher, as Lazarus converted the funds into cryptocurrency. The total estimated loss from the scam, based on the number of people targeted, is over £9 million.
She pleaded guilty to charges covering the period between May 6, 2021, and February 14, 2025. Detectives from the Dedicated Card and Payment Unit seized Lazarus's devices on February 15, 2025, finding "phish kits, bulk scam messages and fraud messages" directed at parents. Evidence also showed Lazarus requesting banking details, sharing details of attempted fraud, and posting photographs of purchases made with stolen information. She was also found to be conversing with individuals who had received the scam messages.
Investigators discovered the card details of 1,363 people on Lazarus's laptop. Additionally, she maintained a target list of over 13,000 mobile numbers and 22 sets of names and addresses. "Trophy photos" boasting of profits from the fraud scheme were also found, along with stacks of cash in her camera roll captioned 'one day worth of side not bad.'
Prosecutor Adam Kirk stated that Lazarus conspired with individuals, including those overseas, to collect and share stolen bank details. He noted her significant understanding of how data could be used for personal profit and that some victims were targeted based on vulnerability.
Tanveer Qureshi, defending, acknowledged the seriousness of the fraud but emphasized Lazarus's remorse and shame. Lazarus was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for two years. Judge Freya Newbury described the scheme as "revolting" and a "horrible way to exploit dishonestly a mother’s love and trust," calling Lazarus a "fundamentally dishonest person with at best hazy moral parameters." The judge noted Lazarus's "greedy" activities and "sophisticated knowledge" of security weaknesses.
The court suspended the sentence, citing Lazarus's prospect for rehabilitation. She will be subject to a curfew between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. for four months and must pay £500 in costs within eight months, along with a victim surcharge.
The Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit, responsible for the investigation, is a partnership between UK Finance, the City of London Police, Metropolitan Police, and the Home Office.