How a ‘humble’ local newspaper reporter helped expose a £400m Caribbean property scam endorsed by Phil Spencer, Liverpool Football Club and tennis legend Pat Cash
A riveting new Daily Mail podcast tells the extraordinary story of ‘old-school’ local news reporter Jon Austin, who helped expose one of Britain’s biggest property frauds, backed by Liverpool FC, Phil Spencer and Pat Cash.
Thousands of investors have poured their life savings and pensions into Harlequin Hotels and Resorts, which promises luxury Caribbean villas for as little as £1,000.
But behind the glossy brochures and star-studded promotional videos was twice-bankrupt Essex dealer David Ames, who ran Harlequin solely on investor money.
Ames spent money on lavish flights while promising foreign investment would come; He spent £1 million on washed-out imported sand, built a pirate ship and started his own airline, Harlequin Air.
None of Harlequin’s famous supporters were any the wiser. Phil Spencer recently revealed that he, too, was a victim of Ames and lost a ‘huge amount of money’ due to the scheme.
In the latest episode of Robberies, Scams and Lies: The Missing Caribbean Millions, reporters George Odling and Andy Jehring reveal how a determined local journalist uncovered a £400 million fraud despite legal threats and the surveillance of private detectives.
More than 8,000 British buyers put their hard-earned money into the failed Harlequin operation in the hope of securing a slice of heaven
Harlequin mastermind David Ames, 73, was jailed in 2022 after being found guilty of defrauding investors who poured £398 million into his schemes.
How the Basildon Echo Revealed One of Britain’s Biggest Property Scams
To stop worried investors from warning others online, David Ames appointed Carter Ruck, a London law firm, to issue legal threats against anyone who posts damaging information about Harlequin.
The tactic worked. For years, investors who suspected they were being defrauded remained silent and feared legal action.
In 2011, this veil of silence would finally be lifted when Basildon Echo reporter Jon Austin contacted an anonymous source with information about David Ames’ son Matthew.
In the podcast, Jehring explained how Austin received a tip-off about an investment scheme operating from a converted barn on the outskirts of Basildon. The anonymous caller claimed it was an illegal Ponzi scheme.
Crime reporter Odling explained: ‘This was a small operation called Forestry for Life, which dealt with carbon credits.
‘The firm claimed that it had purchased thousands of acres of rainforest land to generate these credits, which would then be sold to large companies seeking to offset their carbon emissions.
‘People who invest money in the program are promised long-term returns on their investment.
‘The caller claimed the company used celebrity endorsements to create the illusion of legitimacy.
James Middleton, brother of the ‘future Princess of Wales’, was her Business Development Manager. Former football icon Jack Charlton appeared in promotional material.’
Like his father’s Harlequin plot, Matthew Ames used high-profile names to establish credibility. These celebrities were unaware of their fraudulent practices.
Following his investigation into Forestry for Life, Austin released a four-page statement revealing that Matthew Ames, a former Harlequin employee, was a fraudster.
Police used the reporter’s work as evidence to secure a conviction, and Matthew Ames was sentenced to more than three years in prison.
After publication, another source contacted Austin and asked him to investigate Matthew’s father, David Ames, and Harlequin.
None of Harlequin’s famous supporters were any the wiser. Phil Spencer recently revealed that he too was a victim of Ames and lost a ‘huge amount of money’ to the scam
An unfinished Harlequin property in St Vincent in the Caribbean
Austin later went undercover at a Harlequin launch event at the ExCeL Center in London, posing as an investor.
His suspicions were raised when he was offered a £5 million luxury villa in St Lucia for a fraction of the price.
The reporter began contacting anyone he could find who believed they had been scammed by Harlequin.
Austin’s research shook Ames. The property tycoon has appointed Carter Ruck to threaten the Basildon Echo.
The Ames family hired private detectives to track down Austin and stake out the Basildon Echo offices; They were desperate to find out who their source was.
“But John and the mighty Basildon Echo continued,” said Jehring.
They looked at ‘Carter Ruck’ and attacked Harlequin.
‘His writings set many things in motion; Crucially, it forced the Serious Fraud Office to reveal that they, too, were investigating Ames.
It turns out ‘Harlequin’ only has preliminary planning permission; this confirmation meant little.
‘They will need environmental reports and other regulatory approvals before construction can begin.
‘Ames and his team had sold thousands of homes worth millions in total… and many of the properties did not even have planning permission to build.’
To hear the full story of the £400 million scam you’ve probably never heard of, listen to Robbers, Scams and Lies: The Missing Caribbean Millions now, wherever you get your podcasts.
