Conman: The life and crimes of Mark Acklom

Sky News・2 minutes read

Mark Ackland, a notorious British conman, defrauded many victims, including Carolyn Woods, by manipulating them with elaborate lies and schemes, leading to financial ruin. Despite a history of criminal activities and evading authorities, Ackland was ultimately arrested in Switzerland, convicted of fraud, and extradited to the UK, where he pleaded guilty and received a reduced sentence.

Insights

  • Mark Ackland, Britain's infamous conman, manipulated Carolyn Woods through elaborate lies, isolating her from loved ones and swindling her of significant sums, showcasing his skilled deception and heartless exploitation of victims.
  • Despite Ackland's elusive nature and ability to change identities, a persistent pursuit by investigators across Europe, including a dedicated fraud investigator receiving death threats, led to his arrest in Switzerland, highlighting the collaborative efforts and determination required to capture such cunning criminals.

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  • Who is Mark Ackland?

    A notorious British conman with a history of fraud.

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Summary

00:00

Britain's Notorious Conman: Mark Ackland's Deception

  • Mark Ackland is Britain's most notorious conman, defrauding both his family and strangers, leading to financial ruin for many.
  • Martin Brunt has been tracking Ackland for four years, uncovering his criminal network across Europe.
  • Ackland's troubled childhood and early signs of deceit are highlighted, including stealing from his own family.
  • Ackland's teenage years involved significant financial fraud, including using his father's credit card for extravagant expenses.
  • Ackland's criminal activities led to court appearances and a jail sentence, where he showed no remorse for his actions.
  • Ackland's psychopathic traits are discussed, with a focus on his lack of empathy and manipulation skills.
  • After his release from prison, Ackland continued his fraudulent activities, leaving a trail of victims across Europe.
  • Ackland resurfaced in 2012, posing as a wealthy banker and businessman, deceiving individuals with elaborate stories and false promises.
  • Ackland roped in Carolyn Woods, his victim, with tales of being an MI6 agent and faking serious illnesses to gain sympathy and trust.
  • Ackland manipulated Woods into lending him large sums of money, ultimately leading to her financial ruin.

18:34

"Love, Lies, and Deception: The Conman Chronicles"

  • Carolyn Woods met conman Mark Ackland in January 2012 and fell in love with him, leading to him swindling her of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
  • Ackland brainwashed Woods with outrageous lies, isolating her from family and friends before disappearing, leaving her devastated.
  • Ackland lived in luxury with his second wife and children, funded by money stolen from Woods.
  • Woods sought help from the police but was initially dismissed, leading her to seek assistance from the narrator, initiating a 4-year manhunt.
  • Ackland used various scams, including posing as a Swiss banker and organizing events to deceive victims and gain their trust.
  • Ackland's deception extended to prestigious institutions like Clifton College, where he used classic car events to manipulate and defraud individuals.
  • Ackland's criminal history in Spain involved multiple convictions for fraud and dishonesty, with a pattern of reoffending upon release from prison.
  • Despite being convicted in a Spanish court in 2015, Ackland vanished while on temporary release, prompting a manhunt by UK police and continued investigation by the narrator.
  • Spanish authorities struggled to locate Ackland, emphasizing the challenges faced by police in tracking down wanted criminals amidst their daily workload.
  • The narrator, along with a foreign private detective, continued their pursuit of Ackland through various means, including monitoring online chat rooms for potential leads.

36:47

"Fraud Investigator Pursues International Scammer Akram"

  • Charlie, a fraud investigator, received death threats for pursuing fraudsters, including Mark Eckland, who challenged her intelligence with his aliases.
  • Police had been hunting Akram in Spain for six months when Charlie received a photo of him in Switzerland, leading them to locate him in Geneva.
  • Akram had changed his identity legally, using false passports and aliases to evade authorities and prey on new victims in Switzerland.
  • Akram ran a company in Switzerland, Swiss Disk, falsely claiming to work with Elon Musk and scamming investors with promises of billions.
  • British detectives pursued Akram in Lisbon, but the hunt ended in Switzerland where he was arrested in Aiden's Ville after being watched by Swiss armed police.
  • Akram was convicted in Switzerland for fraud, extradited to the UK, and jailed for duping Caroline Woods, ultimately pleading guilty to five charges and receiving a reduced sentence.
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