16-Jun-2005, 06:32 PM
quote:
Trio jailed for £2m con
THREE fraudsters who ran a personal computer business in Leyland are behind bars after conning millions of pounds from thousands of unsuspecting customers.
The three men who ran Smartalk Ltd, from premises on Marathon Place, duped more than 17,000 customers.
A lengthy and complex investigation lead by Lancashire's Serious and Organised Crime Unit came to an end when Timothy Rae, 45, O'Neil Williamson, 37, and Johnson Williamson, 43, were jailed at Manchester Crown Court.
Between April and September 2000, the firm made more than £2m by offering customers the opportunity to purchase a computer for a fraction of the retail price in return for agreeing to complete a questionnaire every month for two years.
A computer valued at £650 was available for £100.
During that six month period, the company attracted 18,200 customers, but only 1,168 ever received a computer – leaving 17,032 out of pocket.
http://www.leylandtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=77&ArticleID=1057201
Trio jailed for £2m con
THREE fraudsters who ran a personal computer business in Leyland are behind bars after conning millions of pounds from thousands of unsuspecting customers.
The three men who ran Smartalk Ltd, from premises on Marathon Place, duped more than 17,000 customers.
A lengthy and complex investigation lead by Lancashire's Serious and Organised Crime Unit came to an end when Timothy Rae, 45, O'Neil Williamson, 37, and Johnson Williamson, 43, were jailed at Manchester Crown Court.
Between April and September 2000, the firm made more than £2m by offering customers the opportunity to purchase a computer for a fraction of the retail price in return for agreeing to complete a questionnaire every month for two years.
A computer valued at £650 was available for £100.
During that six month period, the company attracted 18,200 customers, but only 1,168 ever received a computer – leaving 17,032 out of pocket.
http://www.leylandtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=77&ArticleID=1057201
Martin ~
