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Conman targeted the elderly to defraud them out of millions
ERSOU said Long and Raymond Simpson caused £11,577,762 in losses after promising secure trusts and diverting money into risky overseas investments.
On July 17, Southwark Crown Court sentenced Steven Long to eight years and Raymond Simpson to five years and four months for fraud by abuse of position covering a 10-year scheme.
Between 2008 and 2018, Long and Simpson orchestrated Universal Wealth Preservation , siphoning £11,577,762 from 115 victims through fraudulent trust schemes operated across multiple counties.
Many elderly victims across Kent, Essex, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire received door-to-door marketing leaflets promising 'ring fenced, risk-free, long-term trusts' before Long diverted their funds into high-risk overseas investments without consent.
Detective Chief Inspector Rob Burns of the Serious Economic Crime Team called it a 'cold-blooded betrayal of trust,' describing Long as the 'ringleader' who left over 100 victims facing financial ruin.
Refusing to leave his home in Portugal citing medical grounds, Simpson faced trial in his absence, where HHJ Perrins stated he had 'no doubt' Simpson assisted purely for personal profit.