Massive timeshare compo scheme 'fraud' under investigation by Serious Fraud Office

A MAJOR suspected "timeshare compensation fraud" involving at least 23 limited companies, is under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

It is suspected the companies cold called members of the public offering exit and/or compensation from timeshare or holiday clubs they had earlier entered into agreements with for an upfront fee between January 2018 and September 2024. No services are understood to have ever been provided in most cases, according to the SFO.

People who purchased these services are then believed to have been contacted again and pressured into paying another upfront fee to recover their money on the basis that it was fraudulent.  

The SFO believes the complex timeshare services were operated by an organised crime network.  

In August 2024, the SFO arrested a key suspect at Manchester Airport and searched his home address, going on to conduct four arrests of suspected accomplices and conduct three raids of properties across England the following month.

The SFO was assisted by the National Crime Agency, Greater Manchester Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary in these operations.    

In December Nick Ephgrave QPM, (top image) Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), said: "The SFO does not wait for victims to be defrauded before using our specialist skills to intervene.  

"In September (2024) we put a stop to a suspected criminal network’s efforts to defraud and we are appealing to anyone who thinks they may have been affected to come forward, helping us push forward with a robust investigation."

At the time it named these British limited companies under investigation:

*AML Executive Contracts Ltd

*ASA Partnership Ltd

*DW Contract Consultancy Ltd

*DW Law Consultancy Ltd

*ERS Europe Ltd

*Harwood Advisory Group Ltd

*Huntland Rock Associates Ltd (Hunter Rock Associates)

*Meta UK Group Ltd

*Milton Chadwick Consultants Ltd

*The Nobel Group of Companies (including but not limited to Nobel Acquisitions and Investment Group Ltd and Nobel Business Services Ltd)

*Park Square Associates Ltd

*Rockland Associates Ltd

*Silverstream Management Group Ltd

*Sonata Trading Ltd

*Termination Services Ltd

*The Biz Doc UK Ltd aka Business Doctor

*Timeshare Legals Ltd

*TSL Europe Ltd

*Venture Compliance Ltd.

A further five were added to the list this week:

*Guardian Executives Ltd

*McLaren Consultants Ltd

*Prime Engagement Ltd

*Regulat Consulting Group Ltd

*Sparks Wiseman and Rafe Ltd.

These companies were based across London, Manchester, Hove, and York targeting individuals across the country.

Investigators are encouraging people who were contacted by individuals from these companies and purchased their services to contact the SFO.

Members of the public would have been cold-called and offered either an exit or compensation from timeshare or holiday clubs located in Tenerife, Lanzarote and mainland Spain for an upfront fee from January 2018.

Emma Luxton, SFO Director of Operations, said: “The investigation continues to develop as new material is reviewed building a clearer picture of how these companies operated.

“Our renewed appeal is an important step in our investigation and we’re urging anyone with information on these new companies to come forward and support our enquiries”.