i agree with the others here, this is quite obviously fraud. i do hope the police investigate, seeing as they have a direct admission of the wrong doing a conviction shouldnt be too difficult. i too am massively surprised and disapointed the police have not stepped in yet.

joseph, kent,

I am shocked, but not surprised at how deep this goes.
1) The regulator of premium rate phone lines (ICSTIS) is financed by, guess who, the operators of premium rate phone lines. So, whilst ICSTIS will apply sanctions, these sanctions are insignificant in terms of the monies 'scammed'. ICSTIS's practical role (as evidenced by the minimal sanctions applied) is to maintain the pretence that the industry is clean, and that something is being done about the 'bad guys'. I.e. their role is to 'maintain confidence', i.e. maintain the cash flow to their financers.
2) OFCOM, the 'super regulator' of telecom providers, and of TV companies, under the stewardship of their Blair appointed supremo, seems to do nothing more than legitimise corrupt parctices of their regulatees. If anyone is in any doubt about that, see their response to the clamour that something be done about 0870, 0844, and other non-geographic number scams. Their answer is, basically, that market forces wil sort it.

Bob Reid, Glasgow, U.K.

The UK Premium Rate Industry has been involved in what most would consider fraud for a number of years. It's never been prosecuted by the police.
I note that Opera Telecom, is to contribute £1.5 million to the compensation fund. Over recent tears they have been fined many thousands of pounds by the UK regulators
Look on the Icstis web site at the case from 13 September 2006.
Opera Telecom were fined £30,000 for their part in sending 60,043 unsolicited reverse billed text messages costing 50p each. The messages told the recipients:
"Update: Your services have been modified. Please turn the handset off, then back on, for any changes to take effect’".
Most people would consider this blatant theft. Why didn't Icstis report it to the police.

Brin, London, UK

Interesting that people will have to claim to get their money back. Is Opera or ITV going to provide a premium number for this?

Rosie, Upminster,

What a rip-off from GM-TV, go on their website and they want proof - who retains their phone bill back 2,3 or even 4 years AND they dont even have records for telephone entries made by landline between 3rd August 2003 and 30th September 2004 - sao wont pay you then.

So even if you have the records the chances are you cant claim - what a con, GMTV have basically made it as difficult as possible to claim so you wont bother.

It is about time the regulator made a draconian example out of them, this is fraud

Jonathan, Exeter, UK

I agree, the company should be prosecuted. I suggest that the PM, Gordon Brown, is emailed with a reminder of his promises on election to the Office of PM.

Alan, Llanerchymedd, Wales UK

I am truly amazed at the millions of gullible people who take part in these mostly stupid competitions with the exorbitant rip off telephone costs. With the loss of this lucrative income it may be that a few of the television channels will be forced off the air.

Thomas Stallwood, Malaga, Spain

The ability to prosecute depends on the competence of the Police and the CPS. The inability to competently launch criminally prosecutions for the many railway disasters and the Steven Lawrence murder suggests that a prosecution won't be forthcoming. Paul Corley has obviously accepted responsibility having resigned.

imj, Abu Dhabi, uae

According to GMTV and Opera's statements, there was no fraud. Opera management were telling GMTV management everything was being done properly, right up until just before the Panorama programme. It then turned out some "junior" Opera employees were finalising the list of potential winners well before lines closed. Stupid? Yes. Bad management? Yes? Fraud? That's not so clear. Some of the other TV competition fiascoes, where management apparently knew callers has no chance of winning, well...

Patrick, London, UK

Given the small individual amounts and the difficulties in claiming and obtaining refunds why do GMTV/ITV not just donate £35,000,000 to say the ten top charities nominated by viewers on a free phone in/email vote.
In addition they should have a free competition for ALL the people who vote.

Bob, Bacup, Lancashire

Ed from Cheshire - I absolutely agree with you. But the police can't start a formal investigation until a member of the public makes an official complait. (Just like the Scottish MP did who started the "cash for honours" investigation.) Maybe you should be the person to do so (perhaps on behalf of your sister).

Andrew, Epsom, Surrey, UK

Dear Ed, Cheshire, UK

You are absolutely right. I have been the victim of fraud by my accountant. (company folded as a result). Getting police, CPS involved only worked because I kept up pressure on them.

Your post said 'the Fraud Act is a very concise piece of legislation' but getting police action VERY difficult - too complicated for the average copper. So, following your post, I looked up the Serious Fraud Office site and, as you say, the definitions are very clear. The SFO is now interested to get involved because they believe there may be other, bigger, issues to investigate. Tip of the iceberg?

I was bogged down with police inactivity and your post was just what I needed to find another route.

Thanks,

Michael

Michael, Eastleigh, UK

This is cynical and incidious, not to mention both fraudulent and corrupt. GMTV has systematically preyed on people who have bought into their bland and addictive formula, that presents itself in people's homes in such an intimate "you can trust us" kind of way. Many of the victims will be the very ones who cannot afford to throw their money away at all so to purposely dupe these people by enticing them to chase an unattainable rainbow is nothing short of criminal. They should be made to pay every penny that they have made from this back as well as a large fine, either to those who claim, with the remainder to charity.

J Raybaud, Bolton, UK

Ed, I don't know either. Perhaps you should ask: (a) the Crown Prosecution Service (b) the fundraiser (c) your local MP

Bill, London,

I agree with Ed. This is clearly fraud - Are the Police investigating ? Unfortunately its up to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide if a prosecution should go ahead. Any bets that, even with the overwhelming evidence, they will decide that prosecution is 'not in the public interest'. I would be interested in finding out the relation between Mr Corley's salary and the amount these phone calls earned for the company.

Riley, Kiev, Ukraine

I still don't understand why no one has been prosecuted for this - section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006 is shown below;

Fraud by false representation
(1) A person is in breach of this section if he-
(a) dishonestly makes a false representation, and
(b) intends, by making the representation-
(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.
(2) A representation is false if-
(a) it is untrue or misleading, and
(b) the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading

So just because TV executives are involved they are automatically exempt from the law? Idiots (like my sister) who spent hundreds of pounds entering these competitions over several years were victims of fraud. Imprisonment - not resignation - is the correct punishment. The fraud Act is a very concise piece of legislation and it's very clear that a police investigation is overdue.

Ed, Cheshire, UK