RACORN/ SHUTTERSTOCK News Wine con merchant jailed A con man who duped people into investing in ne wine has been imprisoned, thanks to work carried out by Tower Hamlets Council and Scambusters. Spyros Constantinos, 43, used a Canary Wharf address as part of his ve-year international scam, which promised people huge returns if they invested their life savings in luxury wine portfolios. He used this money, however, to lead a life of luxury, jet-setting across the world and going on expensive shopping sprees. He was brought to book after the trading standards team at Tower Hamlets Council worked with the National Trading Standards Scambuster Team for the East of England, London and the South East on what has been described as a large-scale and complicated investment fraud. Between September 2007 and October 2013, Constantinos used several aliases to swindle 23 people, who gave evidence in court, out of around 1m. These 23 witnesses were selected from more than 200 victims whose estimated 8m passed through Constantinoss bank accounts. More than 300 complaints were received in total. At the Old Bailey in July, Constantinos, of no xed address, was found guilty of 10 offences relating to the fraud. These include: G Four cases of participating in a fraudulent business, contrary to the Fraud Act 2006 G Two cases of fraudulent trading, contrary to the Companies Act 2006 G Four cases of acting in contravention of a disqualication undertaking, contrary to the Company Directors Disqualication Act 1986 He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment. The trial lasted for just over three weeks in June this year, after an investigation that began when the rst complaint was made, in August 2012, and lasted until Constantinoss arrest in February 2013. Successful prosecution over phoney accessories Ealing Trading Standards working with Home Office immigration enforcement officers and the Metropolitan Police Service in an operation to tackle counterfeit crime in the borough has secured a successful prosecution after seizing nearly 22,000 items of counterfeit and unsafe mobile phone accessories. Elite Europe, trading as Mr Phone at Southall Enterprise Centre, Middlesex, and its former director Banoch Kumar, 35, were each fined a total of 2,700 and ordered to pay the statutory surcharge at Isleworth Crown Court in July. Both had previously entered guilty pleas for offences under the Trade Marks Act (TMA) 1994 and Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations (EESR) 1994. Kumar was also given a two-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay a contribution of 1,000 towards the councils costs. CHAMPION STUDIO/ SHUTTERSTOCK Con artist warning in Lincolnshire A number of complaints about rogue traders offering to resurface drives have been made to North East Lincolnshire Trading Standards in recent weeks. Known rogue traders are currently targeting the area and are offering to carry out work such as block paving and drive resurfacing on homes and businesses. One business owner was contacted by phone by someone offering to resurface his drive using products left over from an earlier job. Usually in cases similar to this, the trader cold calls at the property and not over the phone. The business owner agreed to have some resurfacing work done for 50, but was eventually billed for 7,500 for extra work they hadnt agreed up front. The business owner refused to pay and the trader left, but made a number of angry threats before he went. On inspection, the work was found to be of poor quality and only bitumen and gravel was used instead of proper resurfacing material. Ofcers are now reminding residents and businesses always to think twice before agreeing to any contracts for their home or workplace, to obtain at least three quotes to check they are getting a fair price, and if in doubt to say no. Terry Walker, portfolio holder for leisure, people and public protection, said: This case shows that doorstep scammers are active in our borough and we need to guard against them, no matter how genuine they might appear. Its a scam that rears its ugly head often at this time of the year, but unfortunately householders and some businesses keep being taken in. Scams on the agenda at political party conferences Experts will discuss the growing threat of scams to the ageing population at two major political party conferences. BBC Radio 4s Paul Lewis will lead a panel at the Labour conference, on September 29, in Brighton, while MP Julian Knight will facilitate at the Conservative conference on October 7, in Manchester. The CTSI and Age UK fringe-events will examine the issues behind the 3.5bn sent to mail scammers each year. Jane Vass, panellist and head of policy at Age UK, said: Scamming is not new but our fear is that it is becoming increasingly prevalent among older people, with a recent survey showing that more than half of older people aged over 65 have been targeted. Other panellists include: Leon Livermore, CTSI chief executive; Lord Toby Harris, head of the National Trading Standards Board; Mike Smith, head of public affairs, Age UK; and Colin Noble, Suffolk County Council leader.