Fraud Squad, TV review: New series names and shames fraudsters who targeted the elderly
Matthew Noad and Clive Griston tricked people into "investing" their savings in worthless land
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Forewarned is forearmed for viewers of the new series of ITV's Fraud Squad, which detailed a new scam target at the elderly. Victims have been tricked ,or simply bullied, into "investing" their savings in worthless land by companies like Lawrence Taylor & Co Ltd, the one under investigation in tonight's episode. They've made over £10m with their high-pressure sales techniques, but according to the tutting testimony of some rather grey detectives in grey suits, the party is finally coming to an end.
Senior office managers Matthew Noad and Clive Griston were bailed while police sought further evidence to charge them with. That evidence was soon forthcoming. Foolishly they'd filmed themselves in the office giving it the full Wolf of Wall Street, while at Griston's residence, cupboards overflowed with ill-gotten gains in Chanel boxes and Louis Vuitton bags.
It's all particularly objectionable when contrasted with the penury that their actions have inflicted on pensioners such as the Thalidomide survivor who invested his compensation settlement or the 81-year-old who lost £50,000 that might have paid for his grandson to go to university.
The good news is the fraudsters have now all been convicted. What's more, they'll also have to live with the humiliating knowledge that mobile-phone footage of them drunkenly cavorting to Jessie J's "Price Tag" has been broadcast on national television. Their custodial sentences might will be up in a few years, but that kind of shame lives on for ever.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments