David Ames was a twice-bankrupt double-glazing salesman from Basildon with dreams of building a Caribbean property empire. His company, Harlequin, promised ordinary investors luxury resort properties at bargain prices – their slice of paradise and financial security.
Over nearly a decade, more than 8,000 people handed over £400 million. Many bet their entire pension pots on Ames' vision.
But behind Ames’ slick marketing pitch lay financial chaos and systematic deception. While investors waited for dream properties, their money funded pirate ships, imported sand that washed away with the tide, and eye-watering sales commissions.
From a local newspaper investigation that exposed the scheme to the Serious Fraud Office's decade-long pursuit of justice, this is the story of how thousands lost everything betting on one man’s vision.
Featuring exclusive interviews with victims, investigators, and industry insiders, The Lost Caribbean Millions reveals the human cost of one of Britain's biggest investment frauds.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David Ames was a twice-bankrupt double-glazing salesman from Basildon with dreams of building a Caribbean property empire. His company, Harlequin, promised ordinary investors luxury resort properties at bargain prices – their slice of paradise and financial security.
Over nearly a decade, more than 8,000 people handed over £400 million. Many bet their entire pension pots on Ames' vision.
But behind Ames’ slick marketing pitch lay financial chaos and systematic deception. While investors waited for dream properties, their money funded pirate ships, imported sand that washed away with the tide, and eye-watering sales commissions.
From a local newspaper investigation that exposed the scheme to the Serious Fraud Office's decade-long pursuit of justice, this is the story of how thousands lost everything betting on one man’s vision.
Featuring exclusive interviews with victims, investigators, and industry insiders, The Lost Caribbean Millions reveals the human cost of one of Britain's biggest investment frauds.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In 2020, the first arrests are made over the Ecclestone heist, but, after an eight-week trial – one in which George almost accidentally found himself in possession of evidence that directly contradicted the prosecution’s case – all four of those arrested are cleared of taking part in the plot. But these were just members of the gang’s ‘support team’. In this episode, reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring take listeners to Italy, and reveal how those higher up the chain of command eventually ran out of road… all except for one man, who goes by the alias Daniel Vukovic.
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Reporters: Andy Jehring and George Odling
Producer: Julia Webster
Sound Design: Jarek Zaba and John Scott
Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm
Executive Producers: Jamie East and Bella Soames
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Join The Crime Desk now get early access to new seasons of Heists, Scams & Lies before anyone else. Plus, you'll get exclusive weekly bonus episodes of our award-winning podcast The Trial, ad-free listening across all of our shows, and early access to brand-new true crime shows. Become a member today at thecrimedesk.com.
Presenters: George Odling, Andy Jehring
Series Producer: Ósk Petursdottir
Sound Design: John Scott
Executive Producer: Bella Soames
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.