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Action Fraud launch new campaign to fight festive fraud

Action Fraud have launched a new campaign to remind the public to be extra alert over the Christmas period when shopping for gifts online. Fraudsters looking to take advantage of shoppers, are luring them in with promises of great deals and big savings.

Over the Christmas period last year, fraudsters conned 15,024 shoppers out of more than £11 million and fraudsters are using social media and online auction sites to target people. Action Fraud say that mobile phones were the most common item that people tried to buy from fraudsters. Victims reported being hooked in with bargain deals on popular … Read more

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Company Fined £200,000 For Sending 14.8 Million Spam Texts

A London based tax returns company has been fined £200,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office for sending 14.8 million marketing text messages between July 2016 and October 2017. The ICO began an investigation after receiving over 2,100 complaints from members of the public.

The company, named as Tax Returned Limited, did not follow the proper guidelines when contacting people. The ICO found that the company had not taken the reasonable steps to make sure the data complied with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation, which requires a company or organisation obtains specific approval from people receiving the messages, prior … Read more

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Conman took advantage of vulnerable pensioner

A conman who tricked a pensioner into spending money on a unworthy product to cut her heating bills has been sentenced to 3 months imprisonment. Adrian Hillman, a former director of Eco Shield UK Ltd, cold-called his elderly victim in November 2015 and offered her a product, he said would drastically cut her heating bills, and help her save money.

The victim agreed to pay the £2,000 to the conman after he visited her in her home and convinced her this worthless product would be a worthwhile purchase. However, when the job was complete, the elderly victim was horrified to … Read more

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Grenfell Fraudster Jailed

Sharife Elouahabi has been jailed for six years for falsely claiming over £100,000 from the disaster fund.

Elouahabi told authorities that he had been living with his uncle and family in the tower and alleged to be a member of the El-Wahabi family, five of whom had died in the fire. In reality, he had no connection to them at all. He also told authorities he had suffered constant nightmares, anxiety and weight loss because of the tragedy. Nine days after the fire, he approached Kensington and Chelsea council claiming he was the nephew of Mr El-Wahabi, who died alongside … Read more

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Retired Couple Want Out Of Their Timeshare

A retired couple from Maine, USA say they spent thousands on a timeshare they have not been able to use. It’s the same old story, an gullible family spend their hard earned money in the hope of enjoying wonderful holidays promised to them by unscrupulous sales reps. By the time the ink is dry on their contracts, the disappointment begins.

The couple from Maine, purchased their timeshare in 2013 from InnSeason Resorts, who run an affiliation with RCI. They were promised a membership which would allow them to trade in their timeshare unit and use it to travel to resorts … Read more

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More Mis-sold Financial Products !

Solar Panels, The New Nightmare For Barclays !

Barclays may have to pay a £38.5 million bill to homeowners over loans taken out to fund solar panels which may have been mis-sold. Barclays Partner Finance is a subsidiary of the bank and has said it will put aside a fixed amount to settle customer claims for compensation. They have also employed the services of Legal advisers to review its liabilities in relation to the case.

It was revealed in May that solar sales agents had misled homeowners into signing up to loan agreements for solar panels. After a surge in … Read more

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Travel Agents Sentenced For Fraud

A travel firm based in Leicester ran by three men has been running a multi-million pound scam. The firm falsely claimed to be licensed to sell Hajj pilgrimage package trips to Mecca. The three men falsified documents and used the logos of ATOL licensed companies to legitimise their business and take advantage of people wishing to visit the holy Muslim site.

After multiple complaints, Leicester City Council Trading Standards launched an investigation into the company and found that paying customers who used the travel agent were subjected to poor quality, dirty and dangerous accommodation and transport.

Judge Timothy Spencer … Read more

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Illegal Timeshare resort Tax Ruling could be overturned.

Maui County in Hawaii is waiting for a second court to rule after appealing a decision made by a Judge in march, who agreed the timeshare property tax classification established more than 10 years ago is illegal. If the county loses the suit, they could be faced with a bill for $34 million in property tax refunds.

A lawsuit was filed against Maui County back in 2013 by Ocean Resort Villas Vacation Owners Association which essentially disputes the classification of tax levied against timeshare resorts. Since 2008, the rate for timeshares has been $15,41 per $1,000 of net taxable … Read more

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£6.1 Million a year lost to courier fraud

Fraudsters posing as police officers and bank officials have stolen over £6.1 million over the past year. The scams directly target aged and vulnerable people, they call victims claiming that their bank account is at risk from fraudsters. These despicable and elaborate crimes have been dubbed ‘Courier Fraud’ and in most cases, they involve a victim being tricked into giving out their personal information or pin numbers, followed by a courier arriving at their home to collect their bank cards or cash.

A victim in her late 70’s was told that there was a suspected counterfeiting ring at her … Read more

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Defence attorney sent to jail for his part in $3 Million Timeshare scam

An attorney representing a bogus timeshare company is sentenced to jailtime after imploring guilty to attempting to influence witnesses and lying to prosecutors.

Joshua Gayl pleaded guilty in court to a single count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Gayl had been representing a timeshare consultancy firm, who were being prosecuted for conning timeshare owners out of more than $3 million, through their fraudulent consulting services. The owners of Vacation Ownership Group LLC were sentenced back in 2016 to a total of 51 years, for running a mortgage fraud scheme orchestrated to sell consulting services to owners of vacation properties. … Read more

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