Identity Fraudster Who Stole More Than £1 Million Jailed for Four Years

A menacing case of long-running identity theft has culminated in a significant custodial sentence after a fraudster stole more than £1 million by exploiting stolen identities and opening fake bank accounts. Craig Milligan, 47, from Dumfries, Scotland, was sentenced to four years in prison at the High Court in Dundee after admitting to a calculated and sophisticated fraud scheme that spanned more than a decade. The case was heard against the backdrop of extensive financial investigations showing how Milligan used the personal details of deceased individuals and other aliases to defraud financial institutions and accumulate illicit funds of £1,092,998 through fraudulent accounts between 2012 and early 2025.

During sentencing, the court heard how Milligan was finally apprehended after being stopped by police in October 2024 while using a bogus identity. Investigators later uncovered specialist equipment in his home used to create false IDs and documents. In handing down the sentence, the judge highlighted the harm inflicted on the victims whose identities were stolen, and the broader risk posed by such identity theft schemes, underscoring that serious economic crime will attract significant penalties.

Key Highlights

• Sentenced to four years: Craig Milligan, 47, jailed in Scotland for identity theft and fraudulent scheme offences.
• More than £1 million stolen: Illicit gains totalled approximately £1,092,998 from fraudulent bank accounts between May 2012 and Jan 2025.
• Fake identities: Milligan used the names of two deceased men and other aliases to open fraudulent bank accounts and obtain credit cards.
• Caught after a decade on the run: Initially evading police since 2010 by assuming false identities, he was stopped in his car by officers in 2024, triggering the investigation.
• Specialist ID equipment seized: Police found printers, scanners, ultraviolet lights and hologram materials used to forge documentation.
• Confiscation action: Authorities will pursue confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the stolen funds.

How the Fraud Scheme Worked

Long-Term Identity Theft and Evasion

Craig Milligan’s scheme was both extensive and highly deceptive — spanning more than a decade. After going missing in 2010 while facing sentencing for earlier fraud and other allegations, he assumed multiple false identities — including those of two deceased individuals, Daniel Pindell and Thomas Warren — to live undetected and continue his criminal activities.

Using these forged identities, Milligan opened multiple bank accounts and credit cards, which he then used to receive fraudulent deposits over many years. Investigators found that a total of £1,092,998.04 was paid into these accounts from May 2012 through January 2025, including substantial sums in cryptocurrency.

Specialist Equipment for False IDs

A key element of Milligan’s fraud was the use of specialist document-forgery equipment discovered in his home following his arrest. Police seized printers, scanners, ultraviolet lighting and holographic tooling capable of generating realistic fake IDs, which helped him evade detection and maintain his false identities.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

High Court in Dundee

Milligan pleaded guilty to identity theft and being involved in a fraudulent scheme before the High Court in Dundee. The sentencing judge emphasised the serious harm caused by such identity crimes — not only to financial institutions but also to the individuals whose private information was stolen and misused.

During sentencing, the judge explained that the sentence served multiple purposes: punishing the defendant, protecting the public, deterring others from committing similar offences, and marking society’s disapproval of prolonged and calculated deception.

Proceeds of Crime Action

Following the custodial sentence, authorities confirmed that Milligan will be subjected to confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. This legal action aims to recover the proceeds of his criminal activity — returning at least some of the stolen funds to the rightful institutions or doled out to compensate victims where possible.

Broader Implications: Identity Theft and Financial Crime

Identity fraud remains one of the most damaging forms of economic crime, often causing profound distress to victims and imposing significant costs on banks and governments. Criminals will commonly misuse personal data — including names, dates of birth, and national identifiers — to impersonate victims, open bank accounts, obtain credit and conduct other fraudulent transactions.

This case highlights:

• The persistence of identity fraud: Criminals can evade law enforcement for years using sophisticated forgery and multiple aliases.
• Financial system vulnerabilities: While banks and financial institutions have robust identity verification systems, fraudsters continue to exploit gaps in data sharing and identity proofing.
• Law enforcement cooperation: Successful investigations often require coordination across agencies and jurisdictions.
• Importance of confiscation laws: The Proceeds of Crime Act enables authorities to pursue financial restitution after conviction.

Financial regulators and industry bodies continuously urge consumers and businesses to protect sensitive information, monitor accounts for suspicious activity and promptly report suspected identity misuse.

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