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The Age
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
The hunt for Britain's ‘Wolf of Wall Street' who owes $134 million
Classic Ponzi trick CWM only operated from late 2013 until early 2015, but in that time captured hundreds of victims. Most were lured through word of mouth, with those who introduced people receiving a cut of the funds – a classic Ponzi trick. Before it all unravelled, prospective investors were told that they were putting money into 'risk-free' transactions on the foreign exchange (FX) markets, usually for a minimum investment of £100,000. In reality it was all a scam, underpinned by the illusion of wealth at the top. 'It was like the 1980s movie Brewster's Millions. [Constantinou] was spending money to create this impression of himself, creating a legend and cult of the individual,' says a source with close knowledge of the former City boss. They likened the atmosphere in his office to the Hollywood film The Wolf Of Wall Street, which chronicled the rise and fall of real-life investment fraudster Jordan Belfort. His lies were so convincing that Ben became one of hundreds of people lured in. Many believed that Constantinou was able to personally guarantee the cash because of the supposed wealth inherited from his fashion tycoon father, who was murdered in a case that remains unsolved. Aristos Constantinou, who ran a string of shops in London, was shot dead by masked men on new year's 1985 at his home on The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead, north London, known as Billionaire's Row. Major CWM sponsorship deals, such as with Chelsea Football Club, also helped give the company the patina of legitimacy. Loading Everything seemed calm, organised and above board. The hospitality was flowing, with potential investors given front-row seats to major events. Constantinou was filmed showing the Princess Royal around the 2015 London Boat Show, which CWM sponsored, just months before its offices were raided. 'It was a clever scam, there's no doubt about it,' says Ben. 'Everything was designed to pull the wool over our eyes.' Staff were told that CWM's investment strategy was simply too 'long and boring' for them to understand. The word 'Ponzi' was also not to be used in the office, with one member of staff allegedly sacked for uttering it in the office kitchen. Red flags The atmosphere in the office was said to be intimidating and volatile, with workers belittled by Constantinou and alcohol featuring heavily. In 2016, he was jailed for a year for assaulting two women. A court heard how he pushed a woman up against the frosted glass of the office reception area and went on to grope and kiss her against her will. While on bail for the attack, he assaulted another woman during drinks after a business meeting, shoving a chunk of hot wasabi paste in her mouth. It was around the same time that CWM began to unravel. CWM's Square Mile office was raided by police in 2015 after a tip off and the business shut down. Ben turned out to be one of the lucky ones. Despite seeing returns of 5 per cent a month after initially putting his cash in, he started to grow suspicious of Constantinou's tale and pulled his money out just before. 'It was too much of a red flag generating that amount of money from the margins – if it was that good it would have been discovered by a hedge fund,' he recalls. Hundreds of others ended up losing their lifetime savings. A person close to some of the victims and their families says: 'There was a retired lorry driver who put all his money in and lost the lot, and a group of Gurkhas who put their retirement funds in and lost the whole shebang.' Constantinou first disappeared in June 2023 when he was found guilty of fraud by false representations, fraudulent trading and money laundering at Southwark Crown Court. He was convicted by a jury in his absence and sentenced to 14 years in jail. Loading Prosecutors estimated that Constantinou made £97 million from the scam and recovered a Range Rover, Porsche and CWM-branded motorcycle during their investigations. A confiscation order for £64 million was handed down this month. Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This was a callous scam targeting members of the public. Many people lost their hard-earned money because of Constantinou's greed and false promises in this fake investment scheme.' The fraudster, who uses the aliases Antonis Hadjicostis and Georgios Arnaoutakis, was arrested in Bulgaria in 2023 while trying to enter Turkey with false documents, but was later released. Aside from the death certificate in Mexico, the trail has gone cold.
The Age
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
The hunt for Britain's ‘Wolf of Wall Street'
Classic Ponzi trick CWM only operated from late 2013 until early 2015, but in that time captured hundreds of victims. Most were lured through word of mouth, with those who introduced people receiving a cut of the funds – a classic Ponzi trick. Before it all unravelled, prospective investors were told that they were putting money into 'risk-free' transactions on the foreign exchange (FX) markets, usually for a minimum investment of £100,000. In reality it was all a scam, underpinned by the illusion of wealth at the top. 'It was like the 1980s movie Brewster's Millions . [Constantinou] was spending money to create this impression of himself, creating a legend and cult of the individual,' says a source with close knowledge of the former City boss. They likened the atmosphere in his office to the Hollywood film The Wolf Of Wall Street , which chronicled the rise and fall of real-life investment fraudster Jordan Belfort. They likened the atmosphere in his office to the Hollywood film The Wolf Of Wall Street, which chronicled the rise and fall of real-life investment fraudster Jordan Belfort. His lies were so convincing that Ben became one of hundreds of people lured in. Many believed that Constantinou was able to personally guarantee the cash because of the supposed wealth inherited from his fashion tycoon father, who was murdered in a case that remains unsolved. Aristos Constantinou, who ran a string of shops in London, was shot dead by masked men on new year's 1985 at his home on The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead, north London, known as Billionaire's Row. Major CWM sponsorship deals, such as with Chelsea Football Club, also helped give the company the patina of legitimacy. Loading Everything seemed calm, organised and above board. The hospitality was flowing, with potential investors given front-row seats to major events. Constantinou was filmed showing the Princess Royal around the 2015 London Boat Show, which CWM sponsored, just months before its offices were raided. 'It was a clever scam, there's no doubt about it,' says Ben. 'Everything was designed to pull the wool over our eyes.' Staff were told that CWM's investment strategy was simply too 'long and boring' for them to understand. The word 'Ponzi' was also not to be used in the office, with one member of staff allegedly sacked for uttering it in the office kitchen. The atmosphere in the office was said to be intimidating and volatile, with workers belittled by Constantinou and alcohol featuring heavily. In 2016, he was jailed for a year for assaulting two women. A court heard how he pushed a woman up against the frosted glass of the office reception area and went on to grope and kiss her against her will. While on bail for the attack, he assaulted another woman during drinks after a business meeting, shoving a chunk of hot wasabi paste in her mouth. It was around the same time that CWM began to unravel. CWM's Square Mile office was raided by police in 2015 after a tip off and the business shut down. Ben turned out to be one of the lucky ones. Despite seeing returns of 5 per cent a month after initially putting his cash in, he started to grow suspicious of Constantinou's tale and pulled his money out just before. 'It was too much of a red flag generating that amount of money from the margins – if it was that good it would have been discovered by a hedge fund,' he recalls. Australian super funds are investing billions of dollars in assets and infrastructure overseas. Credit: Getty Images Hundreds of others ended up losing their lifetime savings. A person close to some of the victims and their families says: 'There was a retired lorry driver who put all his money in and lost the lot, and a group of Gurkhas who put their retirement funds in and lost the whole shebang.' Constantinou first disappeared in June 2023 when he was found guilty of fraud by false representations, fraudulent trading and money laundering at Southwark Crown Court. He was convicted by a jury in his absence and sentenced to 14 years in jail. Loading Prosecutors estimated that Constantinou made £97 million from the scam and recovered a Range Rover, Porsche and CWM-branded motorcycle during their investigations. A confiscation order for £64 million was handed down this month. Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This was a callous scam targeting members of the public. Many people lost their hard-earned money because of Constantinou's greed and false promises in this fake investment scheme.' The fraudster, who uses the aliases Antonis Hadjicostis and Georgios Arnaoutakis, was arrested in Bulgaria in 2023 while trying to enter Turkey with false documents, but was later released. Aside from the death certificate in Mexico, the trail has gone cold. As the hunt for Britain's 'Wolf of Wall Street' continues, those whose lives have been affected by Constantinou's tricks continue to feel haunted by the experience. 'I've been the target of another scam since,' admits Ben. 'So now I do all my own investments – I will not take the advice of anybody from anywhere. There are too many scams out there.' Some names in this article have been changed Telegraph, London The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
Sydney Morning Herald
29-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The hunt for Britain's ‘Wolf of Wall Street'
Classic Ponzi trick CWM only operated from late 2013 until early 2015, but in that time captured hundreds of victims. Most were lured through word of mouth, with those who introduced people receiving a cut of the funds – a classic Ponzi trick. Before it all unravelled, prospective investors were told that they were putting money into 'risk-free' transactions on the foreign exchange (FX) markets, usually for a minimum investment of £100,000. In reality it was all a scam, underpinned by the illusion of wealth at the top. 'It was like the 1980s movie Brewster's Millions. [Constantinou] was spending money to create this impression of himself, creating a legend and cult of the individual,' says a source with close knowledge of the former City boss. They likened the atmosphere in his office to the Hollywood film The Wolf Of Wall Street, which chronicled the rise and fall of real-life investment fraudster Jordan Belfort. His lies were so convincing that Ben became one of hundreds of people lured in. Many believed that Constantinou was able to personally guarantee the cash because of the supposed wealth inherited from his fashion tycoon father, who was murdered in a case that remains unsolved. Aristos Constantinou, who ran a string of shops in London, was shot dead by masked men on new year's 1985 at his home on The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead, north London, known as Billionaire's Row. Major CWM sponsorship deals, such as with Chelsea Football Club, also helped give the company the patina of legitimacy. Loading Everything seemed calm, organised and above board. The hospitality was flowing, with potential investors given front-row seats to major events. Constantinou was filmed showing the Princess Royal around the 2015 London Boat Show, which CWM sponsored, just months before its offices were raided. 'It was a clever scam, there's no doubt about it,' says Ben. 'Everything was designed to pull the wool over our eyes.' Staff were told that CWM's investment strategy was simply too 'long and boring' for them to understand. The word 'Ponzi' was also not to be used in the office, with one member of staff allegedly sacked for uttering it in the office kitchen. Red flags The atmosphere in the office was said to be intimidating and volatile, with workers belittled by Constantinou and alcohol featuring heavily. In 2016, he was jailed for a year for assaulting two women. A court heard how he pushed a woman up against the frosted glass of the office reception area and went on to grope and kiss her against her will. While on bail for the attack, he assaulted another woman during drinks after a business meeting, shoving a chunk of hot wasabi paste in her mouth. It was around the same time that CWM began to unravel. CWM's Square Mile office was raided by police in 2015 after a tip off and the business shut down. Ben turned out to be one of the lucky ones. Despite seeing returns of 5 per cent a month after initially putting his cash in, he started to grow suspicious of Constantinou's tale and pulled his money out just before. 'It was too much of a red flag generating that amount of money from the margins – if it was that good it would have been discovered by a hedge fund,' he recalls. Hundreds of others ended up losing their lifetime savings. A person close to some of the victims and their families says: 'There was a retired lorry driver who put all his money in and lost the lot, and a group of Gurkhas who put their retirement funds in and lost the whole shebang.' Constantinou first disappeared in June 2023 when he was found guilty of fraud by false representations, fraudulent trading and money laundering at Southwark Crown Court. He was convicted by a jury in his absence and sentenced to 14 years in jail. Loading Prosecutors estimated that Constantinou made £97 million from the scam and recovered a Range Rover, Porsche and CWM-branded motorcycle during their investigations. A confiscation order for £64 million was handed down this month. Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This was a callous scam targeting members of the public. Many people lost their hard-earned money because of Constantinou's greed and false promises in this fake investment scheme.' The fraudster, who uses the aliases Antonis Hadjicostis and Georgios Arnaoutakis, was arrested in Bulgaria in 2023 while trying to enter Turkey with false documents, but was later released. Aside from the death certificate in Mexico, the trail has gone cold.
Washington Post
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Lights! Camera! But not enough action in a fading, worried Hollywood.
LOS ANGELES — P.J. Byrne has acted in films and television shows across the country and around the world in the past few years — from New York to New Mexico, Ireland to Australia. But there's one place he hasn't worked lately: Hollywood. Byrne moved to Los Angeles more than 25 years ago, traveling west like so many others to chase a career in the entertainment industry. He's been among the lucky ones, landing steady pay and critical acclaim for roles in movies like 'The Wolf of Wall Street' and 'Babylon.'
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Real-life Wolf of Wall Street' ordered to pay back £64m in biggest ever order
On-the-run fraudster Anthony Constantinou, 42, who has been dubbed the 'real-life Wolf of Wall Street' has been ordered to pay back £64million or spend over 14 years behind bars An on-the-run fraudster known as the "real-life Wolf of Wall Street" has been slapped with what is believed to be the biggest proceeds of crime order ever made. Anthony Constantinou, 42, has been ordered to pay back £64 million or spend 14 more years in prison for a huge fraud. Constantinou fled Britain during his £70million investment scam trial at Southwark Crown Court in 2023. He was jailed in his absence for 14 years for fraud and money laundering, duping 312 investors from 2013 to 2015. It was reported last year that a death certificate has emerged appearing to show he died of a heart attack in Guadalajara, Mexico, and was cremated the next day. But David Marchant, of investigative bureau Offshore Alert, said: "It's possible he faked his own death. I think he's probably still alive." The confiscation order was made by a judge at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday. Constantinou was jailed for 12 months in 2016 for molesting two women in an atmosphere of "sexual bullying" likened at the Old Bailey to the Hollywood film The Wolf Of Wall Street. He was three years old when his father, the millionaire clothes designer Aristos Constantinou, was shot dead in his London mansion in 1985 as he returned from a New Year's Eve party with his wife. The unsolved case became known as the silver bullet murder because he had been killed with six bullets in polished nickel jackets. Adrian Foster of the Crown Prosecution Service said of the confiscation order: 'This was a callous scam targeting members of the public. Many people lost their hard-earned money because of Constantinou's greed and false promises in this fake investment scheme. 'We continue to pursue the proceeds of crime robustly with the City of London Police, where we identify available assets, to disrupt and deter large scale frauds like this case. 'In the last five years, over £478 million has been recovered from CPS obtained Confiscation Orders, ensuring that thousands of convicted criminals cannot profit from their offending. "£95 million of that amount has been returned to victims of crime, by way of compensation.'
