Did you catch our poll on Tuesday? 📊
We asked, “Which of our recent cases is featured in the Daily Mail’s ‘The Crime Desk’ podcast series ‘Heists, Scams and Lies’?” 38% of you got it right, the answer is ‘Harlequin’ ✔️
So, what is the story behind Harlequin?
David Ames was sentenced to 12 years in prison for orchestrating a £226 million fraud that impacted over 8,000 investors between 2010 and 2015.
Mr Ames exploited celebrity endorsements, convincing victims to invest their pensions and life savings in luxury holiday resorts through his Harlequin scheme. He promised a 10% return for “your own slice of Caribbean paradise.”☀️
Despite selling over 9,000 property units across seven locations, only 176 were ever built. More than 99% of investors received no return on their investment.
This sentence reflects the severity of Ames’ crimes and our commitment to pursuing those who defraud the public. We work tirelessly to investigate complex fraud and hold perpetrators accountable.