Gang jailed for Dubai tourism con
A gang of four that tricked companies into advertising deals worth £10 million by falsely claiming they had secured a £15 million publicity contract from Dubai’s Department of Tourism has been jailed.
HM Revenue & Customs began an investigation into the gang’s bogus company Wilnecote Hall Marketing (WHM) after it submitted a claim for a £1.9 million VAT refund in 2011, even though its turnover was just £1 million a year.
It found WHM had no contract with Dubai Tourism, but as soon as the gang had persuaded UK companies to sell advertising space it demanded invoices, which supported its fraudulent claim for a VAT refund.
Richard Wentel, HMRC assistant director, criminal investigation, said: “HMRC is devoting more resources than ever to tracking down fraudsters. This case sends out a clear message that we are coming after them.”
The gang adopted a false identity and acted as a negotiator supposedly between the Government of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DDTCM), WHM and the companies selling advertising space.
In May 2014, after being found guilty at a trial, the four men involved in the fraud were jailed for a total of 18 years.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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