A customer contacted us to trace a scammer who had run off with gold coins worth £13,000. This is the story of how Bond Rees resolved the situation and got our client his money back in just 16 hours.
Case Background
Paolo (the client) wished to propose to his partner and planned to fund the engagement ring with gold coins left to him by his late father. Hoping to get full value for his coins, he searched online and found a precious metals and jewellery company called Kingmaker & Co, which claimed to be based on Bond Street, London.
Paolo travelled to London with one coin, leaving the rest at home for security – a sensible decision. At first, the company appeared legitimate. The office was on Bond Street, and the man who greeted him was smartly dressed, polite, and well-spoken. Paolo did question why there was no sign outside the office, but the scammer explained this was to avoid being targeted by robbers during the dark winter evenings.
The Meeting
After selling one coin for a fair price, Paolo felt reassured that the man was legitimate and trustworthy. Seeing his chance, the man suggested visiting Paolo’s home to purchase the rest. Paolo was hesitant, but eventually agreed.
A few days later, the man visited Michael’s Guildford home. Over tea, they discussed the remaining coins. Michael had already researched their value, and the man offered 5% above market price – making the deal sound even more appealing.
However, instead of buying them on the spot, the man claimed he needed to take the coins away to sell to another dealer in order to achieve the higher price. He also offered to help source a diamond engagement ring at a fraction of the usual cost.
After some hesitation, Paolo agreed. The man left with the coins and promised to call on Monday with an update and confirmation of the funds.
But Monday came and went. Then Tuesday. By Wednesday, with still no contact or payment, Paolo was worried. The man eventually answered a call, claiming he had been ill but would meet the buyer the following Monday. That day came and went too, and when pressed further, the man claimed the coins had been “stolen from his bag” in London.
Suspicious, Paolo did his own research. He soon uncovered that the man, using the names Charles James and Charlie Gatley, had a history of fraud. There were news reports linking him to previous scams totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds, and even a prison sentence for conning vulnerable people. Clearly, he had not changed his ways.
The Solution
Paolo reported the crime to the police but was only handed a crime reference number and was told that it was unlikely anything could be done because they lacked the resources to pursue it. Realising he needed urgent action, Paolo searched for a private investigator and found Bond Rees. Impressed by our client reviews and thorough approach, he contacted us immediately.
Rapid Response = Better Results
Our investigators gathered the full story from Paolo and quickly got to work. In cases like this, speed is vital – scammers often try to disappear or liquidate assets fast. They are smart and know what they are doing.
By analysing databases, business records, social media posts, and other intelligence, we established a strong link between the fraudster’s activity and the Brighton & Hove area. This enabled us to focus the search.
Within just 16 hours, we tracked him down to a £2.4m property in Hove.
Securing the return
Our investigators arrived at the property and confronted the fraudster as he unloaded golf clubs from his luxury vehicle. We had already confirmed his identity through Paolo’s Ring doorbell footage and media reports.
He was visibly shocked. At first, he attempted to flee inside but left his car open. Our detectives explained that we had video evidence of his visit to Paolo’s home and audio recordings from a neighbour, linking him directly to the stolen coins.
Initially, he tried another excuse – claiming the coins had been stolen from him in Brighton – a clearly different story to the other one. However, when presented with the choice of resolving the matter immediately or facing police involvement, he chose the former.
On the spot, he handed over £13,000, representing the full value of the gold coins.
Client Reflection
Paolo was both relieved and ecstatic. He was able to purchase the engagement ring for his partner as planned, while also avoiding what could have been a devastating loss.
He later said:
“I can’t thank Bond Rees enough. Within just hours of contacting them, they had tracked down the fraudster, confronted him, and recovered £13,000 for me. I was able to buy the engagement ring for my partner, and more importantly, I’ve learned a lesson I’ll never forget. Their professionalism and speed were outstanding – I’d recommend Bond Rees to anyone in a similar situation.”
Paolo also acknowledged that, while he considered himself cautious, this experience taught him a valuable lesson about trust and due diligence when dealing with high-value assets.
Need help finding a scammer?
Don’t let fraudsters get away with your money or peace of mind. The expert investigators at Bond Rees can trace scammers quickly, confront them directly, and help recover what’s rightfully yours.
👉 Contact Bond Rees today for a confidential consultation and take the first step towards getting your money back.
