Rephonic
Artwork for Heists, Scams & Lies

Heists, Scams & Lies

The Crime Desk
David Ames
Harlequin
Tamara Ecclestone
Serious Fraud Office
Investment Fraud
Caribbean Real Estate
Caribbean Property Investment
Fraud
Investment Losses
Carter Ruck
Bernie Ecclestone
The Crime Desk
Billionaires' Row
Caribbean
Burglary
Serbia
Jewellery Theft
Flying Squad
Met Police
Emile Bogdan Sevastriu

David Ames was a twice-bankrupt double-glazing salesman from Basildon with dreams of building a Caribbean property empire. His company, Harlequin, promised ordinary investors luxury resort properties at bargain prices – their slice of paradise and financial security.

Over nearly a decade, more than 8,000 people handed over £400 million. Many bet their entire pension pots on Ames' vision.

But behin... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes14Founded9 months ago
Category
True Crime

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Heists, Scams & Lies

Latest Episodes

After David Ames's conviction, the hosts receive an unexpected message from his son Dan, insisting his father is innocent. Soon after, they find themselves sitting in Carol Ames's bungalow, listening to the convicted fraudster's wife defend him. As C... more

After years of selling Caribbean dreams, David Ames's empire finally crumbles. This episode exposes the network of independent financial advisors who earned millions in commissions for pushing Harlequin properties onto unsuspecting investors. Over 8,... more

Desperate investors fly to the Caribbean, only to find a building site. When some speak out online, expensive London lawyers send threatening letters. Behind closed doors, disgruntled former employees tip off the Serious Fraud Office. Investigator Jo... more

It’s 2008 and business is booming at Harlequin. But Ames is spending investor money at an alarming rate – on pirate ships, imported sand, even plans for a private airline. Meanwhile, construction at Buccament Bay is spiralling into chaos. Builders va... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Carol Ames
Harlequin's former director and David's wife
Harlequin
Episode: Walter Mitty | Episode 5

Hosts

George Odling
Co-host and investigative journalist focusing on financial crime and high-profile cases, with a background as a reporter at the Daily Mail.
Andy Jehring
Co-host and investigative journalist specializing in true crime and financial fraud narratives, also working as a reporter at the Daily Mail.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 61 ratings
  • First Rate True Crime Storytelling

    Loved this engrossing, true crime podcast. It kept me hooked through out, thanks to the excellent cast of characters and forensic detail with which they unpick this fascinating story….a blue chip true crime podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ptd76
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Must listen

    Terrific podcast. Information rich and excellent storytelling

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LucasMac2020
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Amazing

    I loved this podcast so much that I listened every day

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Donut guy2025
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Hope

    Gee, I certainly hope those super rich people get their jewellery back.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    overbeay
    New Zealand7 months ago
  • Smashing!

    Thoroughly enjoyed this podcast. It gets better with each episode and it was fascinating to hear the twists, turns and revelations. Definitely worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sausage754
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the compelling storytelling and detailed exploration of complex financial frauds. They commend the engaging nature of the content, often finding it gripping and informative. Many express admiration for the hosts' investigative work and the depth of interviews with victims and experts. However, some critiques mention issues with pacing and repetitiveness in certain episodes. Overall, the reception is largely positive, with many eager for future content.

Top True Crime Podcasts

Wisecrack
WisecrackTenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts
BETH'S DEAD
BETH'S DEADMonica Padman, Elizabeth Laime, Andy Rosen
RedHanded
RedHandedWondery | RedHanded
In The Dark
In The DarkThe New Yorker
Casefile True Crime
Casefile True CrimeCasefile Presents
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBCNBC News
Crime Junkie
Crime JunkieAudiochuck

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Walter Mitty | Episode 5
Q: What do you think you and David would do differently if you could go back 20 years and start the whole thing again?
David doesn't regret anything but Carol expresses regret for how the situation has affected their family and the investors.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Heists, Scams & Lies

What is Heists, Scams & Lies about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on one of Britain's most catastrophic investment frauds, the content revolves around the audacious schemes of David Ames and his company, Harlequin. The narrative unpacks the devastating impact on over 8,000 investors who were lured by the promise of luxurious Caribbean properties, only to see their dreams crumble amidst financial mismanagement and deception. Exclusively featuring interviews with victims, investigators, and relevant industry insiders, the series sheds light on the complexities of a case that saw ordinary individuals place their life savings at risk, all while the perpetrators lived lavishly. With an engaging storytelling style that incorporates drama, intrigue, and unexpected twists, the episodes aim to keep listen... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Heists, Scams & Lies?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Heists, Scams & Lies. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Heists, Scams & Lies and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Heists, Scams & Lies get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Heists, Scams & Lies, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Heists, Scams & Lies?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Heists, Scams & Lies, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Heists, Scams & Lies have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Heists, Scams & Lies has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Heists, Scams & Lies?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Heists, Scams & Lies:

1. The Trial: Australia
2. Charlene: Somebody Knows Something
3. The Trial
4. British Scandal
5. Crime Next Door

How many episodes of Heists, Scams & Lies are there?

Heists, Scams & Lies launched 9 months ago and published 14 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Heists, Scams & Lies?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Heists, Scams & Lies?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Heists, Scams & Lies from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Heists, Scams & Lies?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Heists, Scams & Lies. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Heists, Scams & Lies?

Recent guests on Heists, Scams & Lies include:

1. Carol Ames

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days