Dick Eastman is reporting on his blog that heir hunting firm World Wide Genealogy Ltd (formerly called Beneficiaries Ltd), has been prosecuted on ten counts of fraud at Reading Crown Court in Berkshire. The company was based in Edinburgh, and has now been ordered to pay back £200,000 to clients and a fine of £25,000.
The conviction, for ten counts of Fraud by False Representation contrary to Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006, actually took place in late July - the full story is at www.lawskills.co.uk/articles/2013/07/heir-hunter-convicted-on-ten-counts-of-fraud/ and also reported locally in Berkshire by Newbury Today at www.lawskills.co.uk/articles/2013/07/heir-hunter-convicted-on-ten-counts-of-fraud/.
The local council has also issued a statement at www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=27326. Councillor Dominic Boeck, West Berkshire's Executive Member for Trading Standards said, "This is a great result. These were fraudsters preying on innocent victims in a particularly distasteful and calculated manner. It will send a clear message to companies operating in these sectors that they cannot mislead and lie to people whilst asking them to hand over potentially large sums of money. The Council will be asking the relevant Government department what more can be done to protect the interests of potential beneficiaries in circumstances like this."
For details on the company see http://companycheck.co.uk/company/SC206825.
(With thanks to Dick Eastman and West Berkshire Council)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Showing posts with label fraud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fraud. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Friday, 7 December 2012
More on WDYTYA Live advertising scam
I posted a comment a couple of days ago about a scam for advertising in an alleged brochure being put together for Who Do You Think You Are Live 2013, which the event has confirmed to me is a fraud (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/wdytya-live-advertising-fraud.html).
I've since heard of other examples of this from other professional genealogists, including one who had a call this morning from a woman with an Australian accent seeking to offer the same. It seems to be quite an aggressive scam doing the rounds.
Please take on board the advice given in my previous post - if anyone calls to offer advertising in a WDYTYA Live brochure, it is a scam - the only way to advertise is to contact the event itself (see previous post for details)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
I've since heard of other examples of this from other professional genealogists, including one who had a call this morning from a woman with an Australian accent seeking to offer the same. It seems to be quite an aggressive scam doing the rounds.
Please take on board the advice given in my previous post - if anyone calls to offer advertising in a WDYTYA Live brochure, it is a scam - the only way to advertise is to contact the event itself (see previous post for details)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
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