18 people charged by UK police in connection with large-scale fraud against timeshare owners (CPS update)

The UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) to charge 18 people with 79 counts related to a large-scale fraud targeting timeshare owners.

Ten people have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud between 1 January 2013 and 31 January 2017 while being directors, sales people and administrators of companies including Monster Group Travel, Monster Rewards and sellmytimeshare.com. They are:  

• Mark Rowe, 51, of Bishops Lydeard in Taunton and Los Blanquitos in Tenerife  
• Simon Walker, 55, of Costa Adeje in Tenerife  
• Louise Matthews-Oakenfold, 49, of Santa Cruz, Tenerife  
• Jodi Beard, 40, of Costa Adeje, Tenerife  
• Deborah Frost, 58, of Edificio El Jable, Tenerife  
• Samantha McCaulay (nee Jackson), 48, of San Miguel De Abona, Tenerife  
• Joanne Physick, 42, of Los Christianos Arona, Tenerife  
• Paul Harrison, 51, of Osmington, Weymouth, Dorset  
• Nihat Salih, 53, of Upton, Poole, Dorset  
• Lisa Salih, 52, of Upton, Poole, Dorset  

Two people have been charged with money laundering between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017 while working as directors of Monster Credits:  

• Mark Rowe (as above)  
• Nicola Rowe, 50, of Bishops Lydeard in Taunton and Los Blanquitos in Tenerife  

Two women have been charged with committing fraud between 1 August 2015 and 31 December 2017 while working in administrative roles:  

• Deborah Frost (as above)  
• Samantha McCaulay (nee Jackson, as above)  

Nine people have been charged with six separate fraud incidents each, as well as committing fraud against the purchasers of Monster Credits between 1 October 2016 and 31 January 2017. They are:  

• Paul Harrison (as above)  
• Barry Fox, 56, of Battenhall Place, Worcester  
• David Taylor, 52, of Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire  
• Paul Fowler, 63, of Wimborne Road, Bournemouth  
• Lee Evans, 48, of Walmer Bridge, Preston, Lancashire  
• Nihat Salih (as above)  
• Lisa Salih (as above)  
• Ian Frost, 50, of Edificio El Jable, Tenerife  
• Josephine Cuthill-Fox, 57, of Battenhall Place, Worcester 

Joanne Taylor, 47, of Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire, has been charged with five separate fraud offences and committing fraud against the purchasers of Monster Credits between 1 October 2016 and 31 January 2017.  

Finally, in addition to the conspiracy, Louise Matthews-Oakenfold (as above), has also been charged with three forgery offences and Simon Walker (as above) has been charged with three fraud offences.  

Peter Highway, senior investigating officer from the SW ROCU, said: “This is clearly a significant step forward in a complex fraud investigation that began more than five years ago and has affected thousands of people who have collectively invested upwards of £25 million.”  

Andrew Penhale, Chief Crown Prosecutor said: “The CPS has reviewed a file of evidence from South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and has authorised the investigation team to charge 18 people with 79 offences related to a timeshare fraud.  

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”