Menu
03/12/2010
Celebrity Lifestyle Fraudsters Jailed
Five gang members have been jailed for 15 years for stealing £17m of taxpayer’s money in a complicated ‘missing trader’ VAT fraud.
During a four and a half year investigation, criminal investigators from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) smashed the multi million pound fraud, centred on the mobile phone industry. VAT claims to steal a further £5m had been made, but these were stopped from being paid.
Paperwork recovered during house searches showed that the gang were planning on a further fraud to steal an additional £300m of VAT from the public purse, however this plot was foiled.
Gary Lampon, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said: “This was organised fraud on a massive scale used to blatantly fund the extravagant lifestyles of this criminal gang at the expense of the British taxpayer. ‘Missing trader’ fraud is not merely a paper fraud, it is organised crime and we are determined to pursue and bring to justice the criminals behind this type of fraud and confiscate the proceeds of their crimes.”
The gang used the proceeds of their crime to purchase high value items in cash including; several UK properties worth over £1m each, performance cars including a Rolls Royce Phantom for £250,000, a Ferrari for £165,000, and a property in Spain valued at over £1million.
(BMcN/KMcA)
During a four and a half year investigation, criminal investigators from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) smashed the multi million pound fraud, centred on the mobile phone industry. VAT claims to steal a further £5m had been made, but these were stopped from being paid.
Paperwork recovered during house searches showed that the gang were planning on a further fraud to steal an additional £300m of VAT from the public purse, however this plot was foiled.
Gary Lampon, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said: “This was organised fraud on a massive scale used to blatantly fund the extravagant lifestyles of this criminal gang at the expense of the British taxpayer. ‘Missing trader’ fraud is not merely a paper fraud, it is organised crime and we are determined to pursue and bring to justice the criminals behind this type of fraud and confiscate the proceeds of their crimes.”
The gang used the proceeds of their crime to purchase high value items in cash including; several UK properties worth over £1m each, performance cars including a Rolls Royce Phantom for £250,000, a Ferrari for £165,000, and a property in Spain valued at over £1million.
(BMcN/KMcA)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
10 December 2010
Further Fraudster Sentenced In £17million VAT Fraud
The sixth member of an organised crime gang was sentenced today for his part in a plot to steal £17m of taxpayer’s money in a complicated ‘missing trader’ VAT fraud. Five men were jailed last Friday for 15 years. A further ten defendants have been charged and are due to stand trial next year.
Further Fraudster Sentenced In £17million VAT Fraud
The sixth member of an organised crime gang was sentenced today for his part in a plot to steal £17m of taxpayer’s money in a complicated ‘missing trader’ VAT fraud. Five men were jailed last Friday for 15 years. A further ten defendants have been charged and are due to stand trial next year.
13 February 2012
Booze Smuggling Gang Jailed For £50m Fraud
A criminal gang has been jailed for one of the biggest ever alcohol smuggling frauds ever uncovered in the UK. The scam was worth £50m a year in unpaid duty and VAT and allowed the gang members to spend recklessly on high performance cars and luxury properties throughout Europe.
Booze Smuggling Gang Jailed For £50m Fraud
A criminal gang has been jailed for one of the biggest ever alcohol smuggling frauds ever uncovered in the UK. The scam was worth £50m a year in unpaid duty and VAT and allowed the gang members to spend recklessly on high performance cars and luxury properties throughout Europe.
11 November 2011
Former Policeman Jailed For Record VAT Fraud
A former policeman from South Yorkshire has been jailed for over 10 years for an attempted £330 million VAT fraud - the largest of its kind in the UK. The scam was led by Nigel Cranswick, 47, from Dinnington in South Yorkshire, who HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) say went from "rags to riches in a matter of weeks".
Former Policeman Jailed For Record VAT Fraud
A former policeman from South Yorkshire has been jailed for over 10 years for an attempted £330 million VAT fraud - the largest of its kind in the UK. The scam was led by Nigel Cranswick, 47, from Dinnington in South Yorkshire, who HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) say went from "rags to riches in a matter of weeks".
17 June 2008
Forty Charged For 'Cash For Crash' Scam
Forty people have been charged in connection with an alleged £5.3 million insurance fraud after a two-year investigation. The accused are charged with making false insurance claims following false or staged motor accidents.
Forty Charged For 'Cash For Crash' Scam
Forty people have been charged in connection with an alleged £5.3 million insurance fraud after a two-year investigation. The accused are charged with making false insurance claims following false or staged motor accidents.
21 August 2013
Recovered Gun Revealed As Murder Weapon
A gun recovered from a canal on Merseyside has been identified as the weapon used in an unsolved murder committed in Liverpool last December.
Recovered Gun Revealed As Murder Weapon
A gun recovered from a canal on Merseyside has been identified as the weapon used in an unsolved murder committed in Liverpool last December.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
