Fraud

George Cottrell’s mother, Fiona, at centre of criminal inquiry over potential evasion of restrictions on donationsPolice are investigating donations worth £500,000 made to Reform UK by the mother of a convicted fraudster and ally of Nigel Farage.The investigation concerns two donations of £250,000 made by Fiona Cottrell, whose son George has often accompanied Farage to Reform events and media appearances. The May 2024 donations are under investigation over whether they were intended to conceal a donation by an impermissible donor. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Questions grow over close ally’s role in 2024 election in which he held no official positionUK politics live – latest updatesWhy is Farage quitting as an MP, only to stand again?George Cottrell was routinely introduced as Nigel Farage’s chief of staff before the 2024 election despite denials that he had any official role, according to a Reform UK candidate who stood aside for the party leader.Others who have been closely involved in the party have also claimed Cottrell arranged the Land Rovers that ferried Reform’s newly elected MPs to parliament, and that he covered the cost of a fundraising lunch with potential donors before the national vote. Continue reading...

Police ‘exploring evidence’ of more than £1m in fraudulent activity involving 60 transactions and more than 1m emailsThree people have been arrested as part of an investigation into financial crimes involving the University of Greater Manchester, including allegations of fraud, bribery and money laundering.The Greater Manchester police (GMP) said it was “exploring evidence” of more than £1m in fraudulent activity involving 60 transactions and more than a million emails, alongside the Crown Prosecution Service’s serious economic crime unit. Continue reading...

• Singaporean prosecutors have filed additional money laundering charges against a key suspect involved in an AI server fraud scheme. • The case is part of a broader crackdown on the illicit diversion of Nvidia Corp. chips to restricted locations, specifically targeting shipments to China. • This legal action highlights Singapore's increasing efforts to prevent the bypass of international export controls on high-end AI hardware.

Nigel Farage urged to clarify ‘dependence’ on Cottrell, who also joined Reform leader in Abu Dhabi in DecemberNigel Farage has been accompanied by his friend George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster, to numerous Reform events and fundraisers and a trip to Abu Dhabi, raising questions about the claim that he has no official role in the party.Labour has called on Farage to clarify his “personal and financial dependence” on Cottrell, who also has been supporting his lifestyle through accommodation and security before the election. Continue reading...

• Spotify removed 500,000 fraudulent streams from Malcolm Todd’s song "Earrings" following the detection of suspicious activity. • This action coincides with concerns over prediction market platforms like Kalshi, where users may place bets on outcomes influenced by manipulated data. • In response to such risks, the proposed "BETS OFF Act" seeks to ban wagers on sensitive government actions, terrorism, war, and events controlled by specific individuals.

Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick says Farage accepted staff, security and accommodation from George Cottrell before becoming an MPNigel Farage did not declare gifts and benefits provided by a crypto entrepreneur who has previously been convicted of fraud, Reform’s economic spokesperson has admitted.Robert Jenrick said on Sunday that the Reform leader had accepted staff, security and accommodation from George Cottrell, but claimed they were personal gifts provided before he became an MP and so did not need to be declared. Continue reading...