Frauds, Scams & Cons (General; Miscellaneous)
- Thread starter TheQuixote
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The brass neck of some people is amazing!
Fake bomb detectors sold by businessman, court told
A businessman sold fake bomb detectors to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Georgia and Niger, the Old Bailey has been told.
James McCormick's Advanced Detection Equipment was based on a golf ball finder device and marketed to military, governments and police, the jury heard. :shock:
Prosecutors said fake detectors sold for up to $40,000 (£27,000) had no grounding in science and made "fantastic" claims.
Mr McCormick, 56, of Langport, Somerset, denies three counts of fraud.
Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, said brochures featuring men in military-type outfits promised detection of substances from planes, underwater, underground and through walls.
However, he said, the three models - the ADE650, 651 and 101 - were shams and did not work.
The prosecution said scientific tests showed the devices to be completely ineffectual and lacking any grounding in science.
Mr Whittam said the forerunner of the 101, the 100, "was actually a golf ball finder" advertised as a "great novelty item" that could be purchased in the US for less than $20 (£13).
New components were produced for the other models, including sensor cards that slotted into the machines, the court heard.
Mr McCormick had put an International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators' logo on his products, which he was not entitled to use, said Mr Whittam.
The prosecutor added that the devices were variously marketed as being able to detect all kinds of explosives, including TNT, drugs and even ivory, fluids and human beings.
"The devices did not work and he knew they did not work," said the barrister.
Mr Whittam went on: "He had them manufactured so that they could be sold - and despite the fact they did not work, people bought them for a handsome but unwarranted profit.
"He made them knowing that they were going to be sold as something that it was claimed was simply fantastic.
"You may think those claims are incredible."
The court heard after his arrest Mr McCormick said he had been using basic high school physics to devise a mock version of the detector which worked.
The case is expected to last about three weeks.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21701588
Fake bomb detectors sold by businessman, court told
A businessman sold fake bomb detectors to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Georgia and Niger, the Old Bailey has been told.
James McCormick's Advanced Detection Equipment was based on a golf ball finder device and marketed to military, governments and police, the jury heard. :shock:
Prosecutors said fake detectors sold for up to $40,000 (£27,000) had no grounding in science and made "fantastic" claims.
Mr McCormick, 56, of Langport, Somerset, denies three counts of fraud.
Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, said brochures featuring men in military-type outfits promised detection of substances from planes, underwater, underground and through walls.
However, he said, the three models - the ADE650, 651 and 101 - were shams and did not work.
The prosecution said scientific tests showed the devices to be completely ineffectual and lacking any grounding in science.
Mr Whittam said the forerunner of the 101, the 100, "was actually a golf ball finder" advertised as a "great novelty item" that could be purchased in the US for less than $20 (£13).
New components were produced for the other models, including sensor cards that slotted into the machines, the court heard.
Mr McCormick had put an International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators' logo on his products, which he was not entitled to use, said Mr Whittam.
The prosecutor added that the devices were variously marketed as being able to detect all kinds of explosives, including TNT, drugs and even ivory, fluids and human beings.
"The devices did not work and he knew they did not work," said the barrister.
Mr Whittam went on: "He had them manufactured so that they could be sold - and despite the fact they did not work, people bought them for a handsome but unwarranted profit.
"He made them knowing that they were going to be sold as something that it was claimed was simply fantastic.
"You may think those claims are incredible."
The court heard after his arrest Mr McCormick said he had been using basic high school physics to devise a mock version of the detector which worked.
The case is expected to last about three weeks.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21701588
ramonmercado
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ramonmercado
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Just a bit more of a conman than yiur regular vicars.
Mythopoeika
I am a meat popsicle
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The money was just resting in his account. Honest! 
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Devon tenant Brian Kiddell sells landlord's home online for £90,000
A tenant who sold his landlord's property on the internet for £90,000, has been jailed.
Brian Kiddell, 75, of Topsham Road, Exeter, posed as the owner of the Newton Abbot property.
The owner of the Devon house only found out when he drove past the For Sale sign after the deal had been completed.
At Exeter Crown Court Kiddell admitted nine charges of fraud, theft, and the dishonest use of a dead man's passport. He was jailed for six years.
The court heard that Kiddell rented the house in Prince Rupert Way, Heathfield, Newton Abbot in the name of Paul Stevenson, who had died in 2004, but whose passport he had obtained.
He posed as owner David Ayton, to put the house up for sale.
Mr Gareth Evans, prosecuting, said: "Kiddell had been renting the house for four months when the owner happened, purely by chance, to be driving past and noticed there was a For Sale sign outside the address.
"He contacted his own letting agent and the estate agent and found that it was being sold."
By the time he raised the alarm, Kiddell had completed the sale and made off with the money. :shock:
The court also heard that Kiddell tried to access a bank account under a false name to transfer £18,000 after saying the account holder had died and presenting a fake death certificate.
He claimed to be the dead man's brother but the bank blocked the transfer when the real customer was found alive.
Kiddell carried out several other frauds but was caught after applying for a £25,000 loan in the name of Anthony Russell at Barclay's Bank in Launceston, Cornwall.
When Kiddell, posing as Mr Russell, turned up for an appointment he was arrested by plain clothes police.
Mr Stephen Mejzner, defending, said Kiddell was forced to take part in the frauds by an organised crime gang to whom he owed money.
He was sentenced on Wednesday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-21964552
There's material here for a TV drama and/or documentary!
A tenant who sold his landlord's property on the internet for £90,000, has been jailed.
Brian Kiddell, 75, of Topsham Road, Exeter, posed as the owner of the Newton Abbot property.
The owner of the Devon house only found out when he drove past the For Sale sign after the deal had been completed.
At Exeter Crown Court Kiddell admitted nine charges of fraud, theft, and the dishonest use of a dead man's passport. He was jailed for six years.
The court heard that Kiddell rented the house in Prince Rupert Way, Heathfield, Newton Abbot in the name of Paul Stevenson, who had died in 2004, but whose passport he had obtained.
He posed as owner David Ayton, to put the house up for sale.
Mr Gareth Evans, prosecuting, said: "Kiddell had been renting the house for four months when the owner happened, purely by chance, to be driving past and noticed there was a For Sale sign outside the address.
"He contacted his own letting agent and the estate agent and found that it was being sold."
By the time he raised the alarm, Kiddell had completed the sale and made off with the money. :shock:
The court also heard that Kiddell tried to access a bank account under a false name to transfer £18,000 after saying the account holder had died and presenting a fake death certificate.
He claimed to be the dead man's brother but the bank blocked the transfer when the real customer was found alive.
Kiddell carried out several other frauds but was caught after applying for a £25,000 loan in the name of Anthony Russell at Barclay's Bank in Launceston, Cornwall.
When Kiddell, posing as Mr Russell, turned up for an appointment he was arrested by plain clothes police.
Mr Stephen Mejzner, defending, said Kiddell was forced to take part in the frauds by an organised crime gang to whom he owed money.
He was sentenced on Wednesday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-21964552
There's material here for a TV drama and/or documentary!
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James McCormick guilty of selling fake bomb detectorsrynner2 said:
Millionaire businessman James McCormick, 56, has been convicted at the Old Bailey of three counts of fraud after selling fake bomb detectors.
The Advanced Detection Equipment was based on a golf ball finder device and sold for up to $40,000 (£27,000) in Iraq, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and Niger.
McCormick, of Langport, Somerset, said to have made £50m from sales of the devices, will be sentenced next month.
An Iraqi bomb victim described him as a "morally bankrupt" man.
The models were described by prosecutors as completely ineffectual and lacking any grounding in science.
Police say McCormick showed a complete disregard for the safety of those that used and relied upon the device for their own security and protection
There is no evidence that he tried to sell to the Ministry of Defence, but an Essex policeman organised a demonstration which was watched by an MoD inspector.
McCormick claimed that the detectors could bypass "all forms of concealment".
However Richard Whittam QC, who was prosecuting, said "the devices did not work and he knew they did not work."
Iraq spent more than $40m on 6000 devices between 2008 and 2010.
Haneen Alwan needed 59 operations after she was injured in a bomb blast in January 2009. She was two months pregnant at the time and lost her child.
"When people passed through checkpoints using these devices, they thought they would be safe, but they are useless. The man who sold them has no conscience. He is morally bankrupt. How could he sell them just for money and destroy other people's lives?"
"The devices were used at numerous checkpoints within Iraq during this period. It is clear that both civilians and armed forces personnel were put at significant risk in relying upon this equipment," said Det Insp Ed Heath of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the deputy senior investigating officer
"McCormick showed a complete disregard for the safety of those that used and relied upon the device for their own security and protection. He amassed many millions of pounds through his greed and criminal enterprise."
McCormick was remanded on conditional bail and will be sentenced on 2 May.
Watch Newsnight's full report on the fake bomb detector story and the programme's investigation into it at 22:30 BST on BBC Two on Tuesday 23 April 2013.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22266051
OneWingedBird
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It does sound a bit suspicious, doesn't it? Esp. when used by people who would have live ammo and perhaps grenades on their persons.
Mythopoeika
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I've heard of some real technology that can 'sniff' certain types of explosives, but I don't know if any of these devices have been perfected or even deployed.
Generally, it has so far been simpler to train dogs to sniff out explosives. Thinking about it, they probably wouldn't use dogs in Muslim countries because of the 'unclean animal' thing.
Generally, it has so far been simpler to train dogs to sniff out explosives. Thinking about it, they probably wouldn't use dogs in Muslim countries because of the 'unclean animal' thing.
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Just recently on another thread I posted:Mythopoeika said:
Anything volatile emits molecules into the atmosphere. If a sniffer dog can detect them, then in principle a machine could as well.
I'd be interested to know if McCormick marketed his device using such claims - they'd have sounded pretty plausible, given the similar technology actually in use.
eburacum
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eburacum
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ramonmercado
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ramonmercado
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Full text at link.
ramonmercado
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Fake Microsoft callers scamming thousands
Telephone scammers who pretend to be Microsoft representatives have left thousands of Britons out of pocket after gaining access to their PCs.
By Olivia Goldhill
3:27PM BST 06 Jun 2013
The cold callers claim to be from Microsoft IT support and warn homeowners that they have a problem with their PC, but then install viruses and steal data once they've been given permission to log on.
Victims are also charged for the service, as the fake Microsoft representatives tell homeowners to buy an annual support contract or protection plan to help prevent system crashes.
The investigation by consumer watchdog Which? found that 18 per cent of those targeted had their credit cards used fraudulently and more than half of victims had problems with their computer after following instructions from the cold callers.
The average amount lost each time was £745 and according to Microsoft figures, one in five people have received one of these calls since 2010. Elderly people are a main target of the scheme, with half of victims aged 55 years old or over.
Microsoft's chief security adviser Stuart Aston said: "It's a dreadful crime. It targets vulnerable, often elderly people, and it can cost them a large amount of money."
He said the schemes could help criminals build up a small fortune from their victims' losses.
Matthew Bath, editor of Which? Computing said: " If you have ever been a victim of fraud or data theft, then you will know how violated you feel. Your information, such as bank accounts and personal details, are digitally vacuumed up and used by scammers to line their pockets.
"One of the most blatant is the 'Microsoft IT support' phone con. Victims are phoned by a criminal pretending to be a representative from Microsoft. They will claim that there is a problem with your PC and that they can fix it for you.
"Give permission and they will log onto your PC, often installing viruses, stealing data and then charging you for the privilege.
"And it's all lies. No reputable company will phone you up saying your PC needs fixing. They simply don't know the health of your PC. They prey on your fear that something might be wrong. It has to stop."
The callers make use of customers' implicit trust of the Microsoft brand to carry out their scam, and Which? Computing said that their name had also been used to target victims.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/m ... sands.html
I've had a few of these calls - I always tell the caller to 'Go away' (or something stronger!)
Telephone scammers who pretend to be Microsoft representatives have left thousands of Britons out of pocket after gaining access to their PCs.
By Olivia Goldhill
3:27PM BST 06 Jun 2013
The cold callers claim to be from Microsoft IT support and warn homeowners that they have a problem with their PC, but then install viruses and steal data once they've been given permission to log on.
Victims are also charged for the service, as the fake Microsoft representatives tell homeowners to buy an annual support contract or protection plan to help prevent system crashes.
The investigation by consumer watchdog Which? found that 18 per cent of those targeted had their credit cards used fraudulently and more than half of victims had problems with their computer after following instructions from the cold callers.
The average amount lost each time was £745 and according to Microsoft figures, one in five people have received one of these calls since 2010. Elderly people are a main target of the scheme, with half of victims aged 55 years old or over.
Microsoft's chief security adviser Stuart Aston said: "It's a dreadful crime. It targets vulnerable, often elderly people, and it can cost them a large amount of money."
He said the schemes could help criminals build up a small fortune from their victims' losses.
Matthew Bath, editor of Which? Computing said: " If you have ever been a victim of fraud or data theft, then you will know how violated you feel. Your information, such as bank accounts and personal details, are digitally vacuumed up and used by scammers to line their pockets.
"One of the most blatant is the 'Microsoft IT support' phone con. Victims are phoned by a criminal pretending to be a representative from Microsoft. They will claim that there is a problem with your PC and that they can fix it for you.
"Give permission and they will log onto your PC, often installing viruses, stealing data and then charging you for the privilege.
"And it's all lies. No reputable company will phone you up saying your PC needs fixing. They simply don't know the health of your PC. They prey on your fear that something might be wrong. It has to stop."
The callers make use of customers' implicit trust of the Microsoft brand to carry out their scam, and Which? Computing said that their name had also been used to target victims.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/m ... sands.html
I've had a few of these calls - I always tell the caller to 'Go away' (or something stronger!)
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One I missed earlier:
Fraud warning after Devon and Cornwall burglaries
9:00am Sunday 28th April 2013 in News .
Police are issuing a warning after people have been defrauded of thousands of pounds following burglaries at premises across Devon and Cornwall.
The most recent occurrences were on 18 April when members of staff at doctors’ surgeries in Liskeard and Newton Abbot had their wallets stolen.
In the days following the thefts, the victims received bogus phone calls which have led to fraudulent activity.
In both cases the caller, claiming to be from their bank, told the victim that arrests had been made and their property had been recovered.
The caller then requested the victim’s bank pin codes to verify their account allowing them to make large withdrawals and purchases using the victim’s details.
After initial enquires, police have identified a series of crimes with similar circumstances at business such as hotels, a golf club and a hospital in such areas as Liskeard, Tiverton, Exeter (4), St Austell, Ottery St Mary and Chulmleigh.
PC Phil Tucker explained: “We believe this to be a professional outfit operating across the Force area and not likely to be anyone known to the victims. We would emphasise people to challenge unknown people even if they appear to be staff.”
“Police are advising people to be vigilant when dealing with unsolicited calls.”
Banks and Building Societies will never ask for PIN numbers or sensitive information to be disclosed over the phone. If in any doubt take the contact details and phone the police.
www.actionfraud.org is a website that offers information and advice about the common and current frauds/scams that occur. It also offers advice on how to deal and prevent it.
Anyone who has any information is asked to please call police on 101 quoting crime ref. BD/13/546.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... es/?ref=mr
Fraud warning after Devon and Cornwall burglaries
9:00am Sunday 28th April 2013 in News .
Police are issuing a warning after people have been defrauded of thousands of pounds following burglaries at premises across Devon and Cornwall.
The most recent occurrences were on 18 April when members of staff at doctors’ surgeries in Liskeard and Newton Abbot had their wallets stolen.
In the days following the thefts, the victims received bogus phone calls which have led to fraudulent activity.
In both cases the caller, claiming to be from their bank, told the victim that arrests had been made and their property had been recovered.
The caller then requested the victim’s bank pin codes to verify their account allowing them to make large withdrawals and purchases using the victim’s details.
After initial enquires, police have identified a series of crimes with similar circumstances at business such as hotels, a golf club and a hospital in such areas as Liskeard, Tiverton, Exeter (4), St Austell, Ottery St Mary and Chulmleigh.
PC Phil Tucker explained: “We believe this to be a professional outfit operating across the Force area and not likely to be anyone known to the victims. We would emphasise people to challenge unknown people even if they appear to be staff.”
“Police are advising people to be vigilant when dealing with unsolicited calls.”
Banks and Building Societies will never ask for PIN numbers or sensitive information to be disclosed over the phone. If in any doubt take the contact details and phone the police.
www.actionfraud.org is a website that offers information and advice about the common and current frauds/scams that occur. It also offers advice on how to deal and prevent it.
Anyone who has any information is asked to please call police on 101 quoting crime ref. BD/13/546.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... es/?ref=mr
Spookdaddy
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Spookdaddy said:
There's apparently been a mini-epidemic of this scam along and close by the A515 (Lichfield area, up through Ashbourne and into the Peak District).
Drivers beware.
Spookdaddy
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gncxx said:
It is being associated with the activities of certain members of - how shall I put it - the non-statically housed mobile minority.
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It seems McCormick wasn't the only one:eburacum said:
Gary Bolton guilty of selling fake bomb detectors
A businessman has been found guilty of making and selling fake bomb detectors.
The Old Bailey heard the devices made by Gary Bolton, 47, were nothing more than boxes with handles and antennae.
The prosecution said he sold them for up to £10,000 each, claiming they could detect explosives. The trial heard that the company had a £3m annual turnover selling the homemade devices.
Bolton, of Redshank Road in Chatham, Kent, had denied two charges of fraud. Sentencing has been adjourned.
Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, told the court Mr Bolton knew the devices - which were also alleged to be able to detect drugs, tobacco, ivory and cash - did not work but supplied them anyway to be sold to overseas businesses.
They were made at Bolton's Kent home and at the offices of Global Technology Ltd.
Mr Whittam said one company X-rayed a device and found nothing inside the box. :shock:
He said tests on the detectors, carried out as far back as 2001, had suggested they performed no better than random searches for explosives.
Jurors found Bolton guilty of a charge of making an article for use in the course of fraud and one of supplying an article for use in the course of fraud between January 2007 and July last year.
Bolton claimed that the devices worked with a range of 766 yards (700m) at ground level and as far as two and half miles (4km) in the air and said they were effective through lead-lined and metal walls, water, containers and earth.
But "double-blind" tests on a Mole device as early as 2001 showed it had a successful detection rate of 9%, with Bolton sent the test results.
Sentencing was adjourned to a later, unfixed date and Bolton was released on conditional bail.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23461638
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Man who created own credit card sues bank for not sticking to terms
When Dmitry Argarkov was sent a letter offering him a credit card, he found the rates not to his liking.
By Andrew Trotman
4:41PM BST 08 Aug 2013
But he didn't throw the contract away or shred it. Instead, the 42-year-old from Voronezh, Russia, scanned it into his computer, altered the terms and sent it back to Tinkoff Credit Systems.
Mr Argarkov's version of the contract contained a 0pc interest rate, no fees and no credit limit. Every time the bank failed to comply with the rules, he would fine them 3m rubles (£58,716). If Tinkoff tried to cancel the contract, it would have to pay him 6m rubles.
Tinkoff apparently failed to read the amendments, signed the contract and sent Mr Argakov a credit card. :shock:
"The Bank confirmed its agreement to the client's terms and sent him a credit card and a copy of the approved application form," his lawyer Dmitry Mikhalevich told Kommersant. "The opened credit line was unlimited. He could afford to buy an island somewhere in Malaysia, and the bank would have to pay for it by law."
However, Tinkoff attempted to close the account due to overdue payments. It sued Mr Argakov for 45,000 rubles for fees and charges that were not in his altered version of the contract. 8)
Earlier this week a Russian judge ruled in Mr Argakov's favour. Tinkoff had signed the contract and was legally bound to it. Mr Argakov was only ordered to pay an outstanding balance of 19,000 rubles (£371).
"They signed the documents without looking. They said what usually their borrowers say in court: 'We have not read it',” said Mr Mikhalevich.
But now Mr Argakov has taken matters one step further. He is suing Tinkoff for 24m rubles for not honouring the contract and breaking the agreement.
Tinkoff has launched its own legal action, accusing Mr Argakov of fraud.
Oleg Tinkov, founder of the bank, tweeted: "Our lawyers think he is going to get not 24m, but really 4 years in prison for fraud. Now it's a matter of principle for @tcsbanktwitter."
The court will review Mr Argakov's case next month.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... terms.html
When Dmitry Argarkov was sent a letter offering him a credit card, he found the rates not to his liking.
By Andrew Trotman
4:41PM BST 08 Aug 2013
But he didn't throw the contract away or shred it. Instead, the 42-year-old from Voronezh, Russia, scanned it into his computer, altered the terms and sent it back to Tinkoff Credit Systems.
Mr Argarkov's version of the contract contained a 0pc interest rate, no fees and no credit limit. Every time the bank failed to comply with the rules, he would fine them 3m rubles (£58,716). If Tinkoff tried to cancel the contract, it would have to pay him 6m rubles.
Tinkoff apparently failed to read the amendments, signed the contract and sent Mr Argakov a credit card. :shock:
"The Bank confirmed its agreement to the client's terms and sent him a credit card and a copy of the approved application form," his lawyer Dmitry Mikhalevich told Kommersant. "The opened credit line was unlimited. He could afford to buy an island somewhere in Malaysia, and the bank would have to pay for it by law."
However, Tinkoff attempted to close the account due to overdue payments. It sued Mr Argakov for 45,000 rubles for fees and charges that were not in his altered version of the contract. 8)
Earlier this week a Russian judge ruled in Mr Argakov's favour. Tinkoff had signed the contract and was legally bound to it. Mr Argakov was only ordered to pay an outstanding balance of 19,000 rubles (£371).
"They signed the documents without looking. They said what usually their borrowers say in court: 'We have not read it',” said Mr Mikhalevich.
But now Mr Argakov has taken matters one step further. He is suing Tinkoff for 24m rubles for not honouring the contract and breaking the agreement.
Tinkoff has launched its own legal action, accusing Mr Argakov of fraud.
Oleg Tinkov, founder of the bank, tweeted: "Our lawyers think he is going to get not 24m, but really 4 years in prison for fraud. Now it's a matter of principle for @tcsbanktwitter."
The court will review Mr Argakov's case next month.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... terms.html
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Cornwall couple stole £1.1m from hospital and spent it on Turkish villa.
WMN by David Wells.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013.
A couple who splashed out on a Turkish villa and home improvements at their country pile using £1.1m stolen from hospital bosses have been jailed for a total of ten years.
Andrew Baker, 65, and his wife, Anne, 61, installed cascading waterfalls and fountains in the grounds of their sprawling 2.5 acre Grade II listed estate in Cornwall.
Manderley, built in the 17th Century near Launceston, is a popular venue for couples to hold lavish weddings, boasting its own golf course, exotic bird aviary and koi carp lake.
The Bakers also invested almost £100,000 in a luxury villa in Bodrum, Turkey, and owned two Jaguars and an Aston Martin.
Belfast-born Mrs Baker swiped the cash during a ‘breathtaking’ 13-year con while she worked as a radiology department manager at the Princess Grace Hospital in Marylebone, central London.
Using her maiden name, Fitzpatrick, she pocketed £1,142,101.02 by submitting a string of bogus invoices to a fictional radiologist, Dr Baker, for consultancy services.
The ‘well-oiled’ fraud – which allowed Mrs Baker to take home four times her monthly salary – took place between 1998 and 2012, when the hospital was run by HCA International.
Mr Baker, who met his current wife in 1971 after divorcing a former partner, knew ‘full well’ what his wife was up to and was a key beneficiary of the loot, Southwark Crown Court heard.
He also transferred £85,000 into two Turkish bank accounts and stashed £25,000 in a gun cupboard at his home.
Jailing Mr Baker for six years and his wife for four years, the judge, Mr Recorder David Aaronberg QC said: ‘It beggars belief to suggest that (Mr Baker) thought this was all legitimate income. He tried to fool the jury and they didn’t fall for it.
‘It was very easy for Mrs Baker, in a position of trust, to create a fictional doctor, to submit invoices in his name. She was in a gross breach of trust over more than 13 years.
‘Previous good character only goes so far when it comes to offending behaviour of this kind.’
The judge told Mr Baker: ‘I take the view that you are equally culpable, you chose to contest this matter and you deceived the jury and the court with your explanations which were patently untrue.’
Mrs Baker, wearing glasses, an orange tartan-style jacket and an orange and white patterned shirt, and her husband, sporting a moustache, burgundy polo shirt and brown jacket, showed no emotion as sentence was passed.
Mr Baker claimed he had ‘no idea whatsoever’ about his wife’s wrongdoing, insisting he had obtained the cash legitimately from his late father and the sale of a flat in Putney, southwest London.
He also said his wife had received a bonus of £132,000 when she retired from the hospital in 2008.
But a jury of seven women and five men convicted Mr Baker of two counts of money laundering following a week-long trial.
Anne Baker admitted false accounting and money laundering prior to her husband’s case.
She authorised forged invoices around once a month, with annual amounts varying between £80,000 and £179,000.
The couple, who run A&A Venues, raked in a fortune hosting events at the newly-transformed Manderley, which features a 30ft pond with a ‘large cascading waterfall‘, a pitch and putt golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, exotic bird aviary and extensive gardens.
The Bodrum villa was purchased in September 2007 before £85,000 was transferred to Guaranteed Bank accounts which had Andrew Baker’s name ‘all over them’.
A further £88,882 was spent on building work at Manderley, with even more cash ploughed into landscaping projects.
Prosecutor Hugh Forgan told jurors that their genuine earnings were ‘dwarfed’ by their ill-gotten gains.
’Mr Baker turned the house in Cornwall into something rather splendid,’ said Mr Forgan.
‘The defendant knew he could afford it because he knew full well what his wife was up to.’
Mrs Baker is now bankrupt and continues to insist her husband was oblivious to her deception.
Justin Rivett, defending Mrs Baker, claimed she had turned to crime because she found it ‘very difficult to make ends meet’.
’She accepts full responsibility for her actions,’ he added.
‘Initially she hadn’t set out to defraud her employers over a long period of time but events just simply carried on.
‘The fraud was not of a sophisticated nature.
’She spent a lot of money and most of it did go on Manderley but it was a large property and expensive to maintain.
‘They did not go on a large number of expensive foreign holidays.’
Priya Malhotra, defending Mr Baker, a qualified civil engineer who has worked on contracts for the US and British military, said he was not the main player in the fraud.
‘It is squarely on the shoulders of his wife.’
Andrew Baker, of Manderley, South Petherwin, Launceston, denied two counts of money laundering.
Anne Baker, of the same address, admitted two charges of money laundering and false accounting.
A statement released by HCA Hospitals and the Princess Grace Hospital said: ‘HCA welcomes the jury’s verdict that Mr Baker is guilty of money laundering. Mr and Mrs Baker conducted systematic and ongoing criminal acts and both were complicit in the planning and cover-up of their actions.
‘HCA operates with rigorous financial procedures but criminals will always seek ways of circumventing and misleading. Like any company, we will continue to review and improve systems to ensure similar cases cannot happen again.
‘We would like to thank the Met Police for its diligence and professionalism in bringing Mr and Mrs Baker to justice.’
Detective Constable Julie Jode, of Westminster CID, said: ‘I am pleased that Andrew Baker has been found guilty of money laundering. The overwhelming evidence against his wife, Anne Baker, led her to plead guilty.
’She abused her position of authority by fraudulently taking money that did not belong to her and Andrew Baker was aware of this and directly benefited from her illegal actions. They both enjoyed a decadent lifestyle through criminal gains at the expense of HCA Hospitals.
http://www.cornishman.co.uk/Cornwall-co ... story.html
WMN by David Wells.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013.
A couple who splashed out on a Turkish villa and home improvements at their country pile using £1.1m stolen from hospital bosses have been jailed for a total of ten years.
Andrew Baker, 65, and his wife, Anne, 61, installed cascading waterfalls and fountains in the grounds of their sprawling 2.5 acre Grade II listed estate in Cornwall.
Manderley, built in the 17th Century near Launceston, is a popular venue for couples to hold lavish weddings, boasting its own golf course, exotic bird aviary and koi carp lake.
The Bakers also invested almost £100,000 in a luxury villa in Bodrum, Turkey, and owned two Jaguars and an Aston Martin.
Belfast-born Mrs Baker swiped the cash during a ‘breathtaking’ 13-year con while she worked as a radiology department manager at the Princess Grace Hospital in Marylebone, central London.
Using her maiden name, Fitzpatrick, she pocketed £1,142,101.02 by submitting a string of bogus invoices to a fictional radiologist, Dr Baker, for consultancy services.
The ‘well-oiled’ fraud – which allowed Mrs Baker to take home four times her monthly salary – took place between 1998 and 2012, when the hospital was run by HCA International.
Mr Baker, who met his current wife in 1971 after divorcing a former partner, knew ‘full well’ what his wife was up to and was a key beneficiary of the loot, Southwark Crown Court heard.
He also transferred £85,000 into two Turkish bank accounts and stashed £25,000 in a gun cupboard at his home.
Jailing Mr Baker for six years and his wife for four years, the judge, Mr Recorder David Aaronberg QC said: ‘It beggars belief to suggest that (Mr Baker) thought this was all legitimate income. He tried to fool the jury and they didn’t fall for it.
‘It was very easy for Mrs Baker, in a position of trust, to create a fictional doctor, to submit invoices in his name. She was in a gross breach of trust over more than 13 years.
‘Previous good character only goes so far when it comes to offending behaviour of this kind.’
The judge told Mr Baker: ‘I take the view that you are equally culpable, you chose to contest this matter and you deceived the jury and the court with your explanations which were patently untrue.’
Mrs Baker, wearing glasses, an orange tartan-style jacket and an orange and white patterned shirt, and her husband, sporting a moustache, burgundy polo shirt and brown jacket, showed no emotion as sentence was passed.
Mr Baker claimed he had ‘no idea whatsoever’ about his wife’s wrongdoing, insisting he had obtained the cash legitimately from his late father and the sale of a flat in Putney, southwest London.
He also said his wife had received a bonus of £132,000 when she retired from the hospital in 2008.
But a jury of seven women and five men convicted Mr Baker of two counts of money laundering following a week-long trial.
Anne Baker admitted false accounting and money laundering prior to her husband’s case.
She authorised forged invoices around once a month, with annual amounts varying between £80,000 and £179,000.
The couple, who run A&A Venues, raked in a fortune hosting events at the newly-transformed Manderley, which features a 30ft pond with a ‘large cascading waterfall‘, a pitch and putt golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, exotic bird aviary and extensive gardens.
The Bodrum villa was purchased in September 2007 before £85,000 was transferred to Guaranteed Bank accounts which had Andrew Baker’s name ‘all over them’.
A further £88,882 was spent on building work at Manderley, with even more cash ploughed into landscaping projects.
Prosecutor Hugh Forgan told jurors that their genuine earnings were ‘dwarfed’ by their ill-gotten gains.
’Mr Baker turned the house in Cornwall into something rather splendid,’ said Mr Forgan.
‘The defendant knew he could afford it because he knew full well what his wife was up to.’
Mrs Baker is now bankrupt and continues to insist her husband was oblivious to her deception.
Justin Rivett, defending Mrs Baker, claimed she had turned to crime because she found it ‘very difficult to make ends meet’.
’She accepts full responsibility for her actions,’ he added.
‘Initially she hadn’t set out to defraud her employers over a long period of time but events just simply carried on.
‘The fraud was not of a sophisticated nature.
’She spent a lot of money and most of it did go on Manderley but it was a large property and expensive to maintain.
‘They did not go on a large number of expensive foreign holidays.’
Priya Malhotra, defending Mr Baker, a qualified civil engineer who has worked on contracts for the US and British military, said he was not the main player in the fraud.
‘It is squarely on the shoulders of his wife.’
Andrew Baker, of Manderley, South Petherwin, Launceston, denied two counts of money laundering.
Anne Baker, of the same address, admitted two charges of money laundering and false accounting.
A statement released by HCA Hospitals and the Princess Grace Hospital said: ‘HCA welcomes the jury’s verdict that Mr Baker is guilty of money laundering. Mr and Mrs Baker conducted systematic and ongoing criminal acts and both were complicit in the planning and cover-up of their actions.
‘HCA operates with rigorous financial procedures but criminals will always seek ways of circumventing and misleading. Like any company, we will continue to review and improve systems to ensure similar cases cannot happen again.
‘We would like to thank the Met Police for its diligence and professionalism in bringing Mr and Mrs Baker to justice.’
Detective Constable Julie Jode, of Westminster CID, said: ‘I am pleased that Andrew Baker has been found guilty of money laundering. The overwhelming evidence against his wife, Anne Baker, led her to plead guilty.
’She abused her position of authority by fraudulently taking money that did not belong to her and Andrew Baker was aware of this and directly benefited from her illegal actions. They both enjoyed a decadent lifestyle through criminal gains at the expense of HCA Hospitals.
http://www.cornishman.co.uk/Cornwall-co ... story.html
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2001
- Messages
- 54,631
Towcester property swindle couple jailed
A married couple from Northamptonshire who posed as wealthy high fliers have been jailed for a multi-million pound property swindle.
Richard Jerome posed as an international financier and created a £3.5m fraud in which he tried to buy a luxury home.
He and his wife Hazel, of Watling Street Towcester, posed as rich ex pats who had returned from Barbados.
Mr Jerome was jailed for six years and his wife to two years and three months.
Ex minicab driver Mr Jerome, 65, who was living off his £125 a week state pension and his wife, a former Milton Keynes primary school teacher, were sentenced by Judge Erik Salomonsen after being found guilty of a dozen counts of fraud.
Judge Salomonsen told Jerome: "You are a confidence trickster, you are a menace. You are a fraudster whose motivation is profit without working for it."
The Jeromes were finally brought down when estate agents and surveyors learned about their true identity from newspaper cuttings from their conviction at Huntingdon Crown Court in 2009 when Jerome served just a quarter of a 15 month jail term.
The court heard Mr Jerome was committing other frauds while awaiting that trial.
Prosecutor Peter Combe said the Jeromes worked together as a team with him "taking the lead and doing the talking" and his wife telling vendors about their "fantastical lifestyle".
Mr Jerome, who also claimed to be a policeman, targeted rich professional single women along the way.
He used aliases to go on dating websites to attract rich women telling them he was a multi millionaire with global business interests and a £1m a year income.
He duped an experienced woman financier into investing $100,000 and a headmistress he also dated after meeting on the web into handing over £10,000.
During a trial at Exeter Crown Court, a jury heard they made cash offers of more than £3.5m on a £310,000 cliff top home in East Looe, Cornwall, the £750,000 former home of writer R F Delderfield in Sidmouth, Devon, as well as a £2m farm property near Daventry, Northamptonshire, and a £560,000 house in the same area.
They aimed to persuade the owners to let them move in while the deal was being closed as funds were transferred from abroad - but there was no money - and the couple became middle class squatters who refused to budge or pay rent.
They had previously been convicted for doing the same thing as they squatted in high value homes around the UK. One of their victims then was a leading criminal barrister and her late husband.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-24588817
A married couple from Northamptonshire who posed as wealthy high fliers have been jailed for a multi-million pound property swindle.
Richard Jerome posed as an international financier and created a £3.5m fraud in which he tried to buy a luxury home.
He and his wife Hazel, of Watling Street Towcester, posed as rich ex pats who had returned from Barbados.
Mr Jerome was jailed for six years and his wife to two years and three months.
Ex minicab driver Mr Jerome, 65, who was living off his £125 a week state pension and his wife, a former Milton Keynes primary school teacher, were sentenced by Judge Erik Salomonsen after being found guilty of a dozen counts of fraud.
Judge Salomonsen told Jerome: "You are a confidence trickster, you are a menace. You are a fraudster whose motivation is profit without working for it."
The Jeromes were finally brought down when estate agents and surveyors learned about their true identity from newspaper cuttings from their conviction at Huntingdon Crown Court in 2009 when Jerome served just a quarter of a 15 month jail term.
The court heard Mr Jerome was committing other frauds while awaiting that trial.
Prosecutor Peter Combe said the Jeromes worked together as a team with him "taking the lead and doing the talking" and his wife telling vendors about their "fantastical lifestyle".
Mr Jerome, who also claimed to be a policeman, targeted rich professional single women along the way.
He used aliases to go on dating websites to attract rich women telling them he was a multi millionaire with global business interests and a £1m a year income.
He duped an experienced woman financier into investing $100,000 and a headmistress he also dated after meeting on the web into handing over £10,000.
During a trial at Exeter Crown Court, a jury heard they made cash offers of more than £3.5m on a £310,000 cliff top home in East Looe, Cornwall, the £750,000 former home of writer R F Delderfield in Sidmouth, Devon, as well as a £2m farm property near Daventry, Northamptonshire, and a £560,000 house in the same area.
They aimed to persuade the owners to let them move in while the deal was being closed as funds were transferred from abroad - but there was no money - and the couple became middle class squatters who refused to budge or pay rent.
They had previously been convicted for doing the same thing as they squatted in high value homes around the UK. One of their victims then was a leading criminal barrister and her late husband.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-24588817
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2001
- Messages
- 54,631
A worrying case:
'Our £130,000 bill from identity theft'
A stolen passport landed one British couple with a huge demand from the German taxman, who won't back down.
By Jessica Winch
7:38AM BST 19 Oct 2013
A British businessman is facing financial hardship after suffering a serious case of identity fraud, a crime that experts warn is a growing problem across Britain.
Adrian Richards, a project manager at a construction firm who lives in London, is currently liable for a £130,000 unpaid tax bill in Germany and has had to hire solicitors to fight a £34,000 court order.
The nightmare stems from the theft of Mr Richards's passport in 2003. Fraud experts describe it as one of the worst cases they have encountered.
Identity fraud is when a criminal takes someone's personal details and uses them to obtain credit or make a purchase fraudulently.
The same stolen identity can be used in applications for loans and credit cards, for example, as well as multiple benefit claims and tax evasion.
The result can be immediate financial loss and a negative credit rating, which can take months to resolve – even longer if it takes time for the fraud to be detected.
According to figures from Cifas, a British fraud database, 123,600 cases of identity fraud were reported in 2012, up from 77,500 in 2007. Identity fraud now accounts for more than half of all fraud in Britain. The National Fraud Authority, a government body, puts the annual cost of identity fraud at £3.3bn.
"The numbers aren't huge but they are growing," said Neil Munroe, external affairs director of credit agency Equifax.
"A clever fraudster can build up a very strong profile of you and it can reach the stage where the question is: who is the fraudster?" :shock:
Mr Richards, 47, has been chased by the German tax authorities, communicating though HM Revenue & Customs, since 2010, with the order for unpaid VAT initially dropped but then renewed.
"I've never had any business in Germany," he said, "and it's a desperate situation. I don't know the German tax system or how to appeal and HMRC just seems to play postbox."
Earlier this year Mr Richards faced a £34,000 court order after his passport – with a different photograph – was used to set up a communications company in the Isle of Man. The company was fined for breaching codes of practice and the order was delivered to Mr Richards's home.
"The court order was signed for by my 14-year-old son on a Saturday morning, which I had to deal with – or turn up at the Royal Courts of Justice," said Mr Richards. "It threatened my property."
He sought legal representation and the order was withdrawn, but the process cost him £450 in legal fees.
Mr Richards said he believed that the tax bill from Germany was part of the same fraud.
He may now have to employ a German solicitor at a cost of €200 (£170) an hour to tackle the bill. "The reality is that unless I get this cleared up I'm liable for a vast amount of money," he said. "To pay this fine, I'd have to remortgage my house.
"The scary thing is this passport is still valid [the expiry date was extended by the criminal] and who knows what else lies around the corner?"
HMRC said it was not its responsibility to intervene on Mr Richards's behalf. "We can support UK residents in how to contact the member country, but cannot get involved in details of whether the tax is correctly applied," said a spokesman. "If the taxpayer disputes the debt, they have to take that up with the member country and follow the country's own appeals process."
A spokesman for the German tax authority said it could not comment on Mr Richards's case because of privacy laws.
Alan Woodward, professor of computer science at the University of Surrey, said: "Identity theft is becoming simpler and an increasing problem. The burden of proof is on the person whose identity has been stolen.
"The debts get passed to debt collection agencies and assume a life of their own."
Figures from Cifas showed that there were 947 reported frauds using forged or stolen passports between January and September this year, up from 545 in 2012.
Prof Woodward said the move to biometric passports would make it harder for thieves to tamper with them. More than 40 million biometric passports have been issued since their introduction in 2006.
etc...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... theft.html
'Our £130,000 bill from identity theft'
A stolen passport landed one British couple with a huge demand from the German taxman, who won't back down.
By Jessica Winch
7:38AM BST 19 Oct 2013
A British businessman is facing financial hardship after suffering a serious case of identity fraud, a crime that experts warn is a growing problem across Britain.
Adrian Richards, a project manager at a construction firm who lives in London, is currently liable for a £130,000 unpaid tax bill in Germany and has had to hire solicitors to fight a £34,000 court order.
The nightmare stems from the theft of Mr Richards's passport in 2003. Fraud experts describe it as one of the worst cases they have encountered.
Identity fraud is when a criminal takes someone's personal details and uses them to obtain credit or make a purchase fraudulently.
The same stolen identity can be used in applications for loans and credit cards, for example, as well as multiple benefit claims and tax evasion.
The result can be immediate financial loss and a negative credit rating, which can take months to resolve – even longer if it takes time for the fraud to be detected.
According to figures from Cifas, a British fraud database, 123,600 cases of identity fraud were reported in 2012, up from 77,500 in 2007. Identity fraud now accounts for more than half of all fraud in Britain. The National Fraud Authority, a government body, puts the annual cost of identity fraud at £3.3bn.
"The numbers aren't huge but they are growing," said Neil Munroe, external affairs director of credit agency Equifax.
"A clever fraudster can build up a very strong profile of you and it can reach the stage where the question is: who is the fraudster?" :shock:
Mr Richards, 47, has been chased by the German tax authorities, communicating though HM Revenue & Customs, since 2010, with the order for unpaid VAT initially dropped but then renewed.
"I've never had any business in Germany," he said, "and it's a desperate situation. I don't know the German tax system or how to appeal and HMRC just seems to play postbox."
Earlier this year Mr Richards faced a £34,000 court order after his passport – with a different photograph – was used to set up a communications company in the Isle of Man. The company was fined for breaching codes of practice and the order was delivered to Mr Richards's home.
"The court order was signed for by my 14-year-old son on a Saturday morning, which I had to deal with – or turn up at the Royal Courts of Justice," said Mr Richards. "It threatened my property."
He sought legal representation and the order was withdrawn, but the process cost him £450 in legal fees.
Mr Richards said he believed that the tax bill from Germany was part of the same fraud.
He may now have to employ a German solicitor at a cost of €200 (£170) an hour to tackle the bill. "The reality is that unless I get this cleared up I'm liable for a vast amount of money," he said. "To pay this fine, I'd have to remortgage my house.
"The scary thing is this passport is still valid [the expiry date was extended by the criminal] and who knows what else lies around the corner?"
HMRC said it was not its responsibility to intervene on Mr Richards's behalf. "We can support UK residents in how to contact the member country, but cannot get involved in details of whether the tax is correctly applied," said a spokesman. "If the taxpayer disputes the debt, they have to take that up with the member country and follow the country's own appeals process."
A spokesman for the German tax authority said it could not comment on Mr Richards's case because of privacy laws.
Alan Woodward, professor of computer science at the University of Surrey, said: "Identity theft is becoming simpler and an increasing problem. The burden of proof is on the person whose identity has been stolen.
"The debts get passed to debt collection agencies and assume a life of their own."
Figures from Cifas showed that there were 947 reported frauds using forged or stolen passports between January and September this year, up from 545 in 2012.
Prof Woodward said the move to biometric passports would make it harder for thieves to tamper with them. More than 40 million biometric passports have been issued since their introduction in 2006.
etc...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... theft.html
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2001
- Messages
- 54,631
At last, the good news:rynner2 said:
Germany's taxman backs down in UK's worst case of identity theft
Telegraph story brings victory for Adrian Richards in three-year battle against tax authorities
By Jessica Winch
7:16AM GMT 16 Nov 2013
A British man who faced a crippling tax bill in Germany as a result of identity fraud has finally won his case with the authorities.
In a victory for the Telegraph, which first ran the story on October 19, the German tax authorities have confirmed that they are no longer pursuing unpaid VAT totalling more than £110,000 from Adrian Richards.
Mr Richards, 47, has battled with the authorities since 2010 over the unpaid tax bill, which resulted from an alarming case of identity fraud. "Hopefully, this is the end of it," Mr Richards said. "It is a great relief."
The project manager at a construction firm in London had his passport stolen in 2003. Earlier this year, he faced a £34,000 court order after his passport, with a different photograph, was used to set up a communications company in the Isle of Man that was fined for breaching codes of practice.
The legal process following the court order uncovered the doctored passport, which led Mr Richards to believe his battle over unpaid VAT in Germany was also the result of identity fraud. He wrote to HM Revenue & Customs in July to explain the case but continued to receive demands for the unpaid tax.
Experts described Mr Richards's case of identity fraud – where a criminal takes someone's details and uses them to make a purchase or obtain credit – as one of the worst they had encountered.
Jim Gee, director of counter fraud services at accountancy firm BDO, said: "This case shows three things. First, the positive power of the press – without the Telegraph's intervention I have no doubt that it would not have been resolved.
"Second, the importance of getting specialist advice when faced with such a problem. And, finally, it shows the seriousness of identity fraud and the importance of the Government taking it seriously and standing up for British citizens."
According to figures from Cifas, a British fraud database, 123,600 cases of identity fraud were reported in 2012, up from 77,500 in 2007. Identity fraud now accounts for more than half of all fraud in Britain.
It was understood that Mr Richards owed more than £130,000 to German tax authorities. HMRC has since admitted this was its error and confirmed the correct figure was £113,028.
Following our article, the British tax office wrote to the German tax authorities in October asking them to close the case after "further investigations" suggested that they were pursuing the wrong person. In a letter seen by the Telegraph, an HMRC official wrote: "Further investigations in our office suggest that we are pursuing the wrong person for the above debt so I have written to Germany asking them to agree that I can close this case."
The German tax authorities swiftly dropped the case, accepting Mr Richards was a victim of identity theft.
Mr Richards said: "It is very frustrating that we have had to go through all this. It took the interest of a number of parties for [HMRC] to take a view on the situation. As soon as it stepped in, the German authorities withdrew their claim." He is now considering a formal complaint.
Cathy Richards, 51, said: "Adrian is very organised and has folders dating back to when this first started. It just got progressively more difficult.
"Despite [HMRC] saying they couldn’t intervene, they obviously have. It has cost us time, money and stress. You wonder if it happened to someone else, would they have been able to afford a solicitor."
An HMRC spokesman said: "Our process is that we send a copy of the dispute to the member state and ask if it is valid or not. We cannot get involved in the detail of whether or not the tax is correctly applied as per our agreement with Germany."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... theft.html
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- Aug 7, 2001
- Messages
- 54,631
Why your 'free' sample could cost you £90
Trading Standards warning over scam
9:33am Friday 13th December 2013 in News
A series of complaints has led to Cornwall Council Trading Standards warning internet shoppers to be careful when responding to “pop-up” or other special offers when on the internet.
Complaints received show that customers who have responded to the offer of a free sample of face cream for “only £4.95” to cover postage and packing, to be paid by credit or debit card, have later been hit with charges of up to £90 drawn directly from their bank account.
When charges have been questioned, the traders state that their terms and conditions detail the free sample must be returned within 14 days or a monthly subscription kicks in.
The company looks as though it operates from Scotland; however the originator is based in the USA.
Julia Groves, Cornwall Trading Standards authorised officer, said: “We are encouraging anyone who has responded to such offers for products, including face cream and slimming tablets, to report the matter to the Citizens Advice Consumer Centre on 08454 04 05 06 and Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or by visiting their website at http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
“We are reiterating to consumers not only at Christmas time but at all times of the year, not to respond to offers which seem too good to be true as invariably they are.
“Experience tells us that victims of these sorts of scams face a great deal of time spent on recovering their money through the card provider. At the very least you should carefully read any terms and conditions and know the physical whereabouts of any traders that you deal with.”
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... am/?ref=mr
Trading Standards warning over scam
9:33am Friday 13th December 2013 in News
A series of complaints has led to Cornwall Council Trading Standards warning internet shoppers to be careful when responding to “pop-up” or other special offers when on the internet.
Complaints received show that customers who have responded to the offer of a free sample of face cream for “only £4.95” to cover postage and packing, to be paid by credit or debit card, have later been hit with charges of up to £90 drawn directly from their bank account.
When charges have been questioned, the traders state that their terms and conditions detail the free sample must be returned within 14 days or a monthly subscription kicks in.
The company looks as though it operates from Scotland; however the originator is based in the USA.
Julia Groves, Cornwall Trading Standards authorised officer, said: “We are encouraging anyone who has responded to such offers for products, including face cream and slimming tablets, to report the matter to the Citizens Advice Consumer Centre on 08454 04 05 06 and Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or by visiting their website at http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
“We are reiterating to consumers not only at Christmas time but at all times of the year, not to respond to offers which seem too good to be true as invariably they are.
“Experience tells us that victims of these sorts of scams face a great deal of time spent on recovering their money through the card provider. At the very least you should carefully read any terms and conditions and know the physical whereabouts of any traders that you deal with.”
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... am/?ref=mr
ramonmercado
CyberPunk
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- Aug 19, 2003
- Messages
- 58,306
- Location
- Eblana