A SERIAL fraudster left her best friend distraught and ‘in debt’ after pretending to be her to set up a Facebook scam and repeatedly ordering from catalogues in her name.

Burnley magistrates heard that Samantha Dicicco, 24, knew victim Abbie Brown so well, she could guess her Facebook password.

She then used the account, with Ms Brown’s name and address, to con people out of cash by selling them clothing they never got.

Ms Brown was horrified when a woman turned up her door claiming she had bought something from her on Facebook for £69 and demanding her money back as she had not received her order.

Ms Brown had also been inundated with parcels which kept being delivered to her home after the defendant opened four catalogue accounts in her name, using her address.

Dicicco, who is due start work as a NHS carer, also appeared in court on November 27 for a near-£3,000 scam involving two ‘identical’ offences of fraud by false representation, against two victims in September.

The crimes against Ms Brown were committed before the defendant was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work and, the court was told, all the offences could have been dealt with together.

The defendant, of Beech Tree Close, Nelson, admitted two counts of fraud. She was fined £185 and must pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Mr Robinson said Ms Brown had been a friend of the defendant since childhood. In September, Dicicco contacted her and asked if she could have parcels delivered to her address, claiming they were gifts for her partner and she didn't want him seeing them. Ms Brown didn’t think twice about helping out.

When the packaged arrived, the victim was a little concerned as they were addressed in her name. More parcels arrived the next day, again with her name on. The day after, 10 more packages were delivered.

Ms Brown then started to receive letters from one of the companies, saying she owed money.

The victim contacted the company and was told four accounts had been set up in her name and goods had been ordered. Ms Brown never paid over any money, but a debt had been run up.

Dominic Ingle, for Dicicco, said: “She fully accepts what she’s done. I hope this is the last time she will ever be before the court.”