Cruise conman Richard Lester acquired a five-year jail sentence on Tuesday for scamming 184 hopeful cruisers out of £406,856.39 (roughly $507,000) over a three-year interval.
Lester’s scheme concerned convincing his victims to purchase cruise miles by way of his web site in alternate for cruises and discounted cruise fares. Nonetheless, as a substitute of honoring bookings, the UK-based perpetrator ran a Ponzi scheme—utilizing cash from new clients to fund journeys for earlier ones. Victims additionally reported that the required miles for reserving cruises would all of the sudden enhance, making it more durable to say their journeys.
Lester actively recruited passengers to increase his community whereas onboard cruises, even enlisting some as brokers for his fraudulent enterprise. His victims spanned a number of international locations, together with Japan, Germany, France, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the U.S., and the UK.
The 56-year-old managed these transactions by way of his firm, Cruise Direct UK Ltd, which operated from 2009 to 2014. Shoppers have been initially in a position to sail on the holidays they’d paid for, and Cruise Direct even received a World Journey Award in 2012. However by 2011, hassle was brewing.
By that yr, Lester had stopped reserving cruises for a lot of of his shoppers. A number of reported receiving fraudulent reserving confirmations, solely to be turned away on the port by cruise traces.
Dwelling Massive at Others’ Expense
In line with Police Constable Leanne Smith who was closely concerned within the ten-year case, Lester was a gambler who used the money to fund his extravagant way of life.
“Lester poured funds right into a lavish way of life he bragged about to the identical victims’ he defrauded,” Smith mentioned. “Cash was frittered away on on-line poker web sites and his different enterprise pursuits.”
As complaints piled up, the UK Nationwide Fraud Intelligence Bureau compiled proof and, in 2013, handed it over to Essex Police, prompting a decade-long investigation.
Conviction and Sentencing
On December 17, 2024, Lester was convicted of fraudulent buying and selling and concealing felony property. Practically two months later, on February 11, 2025, Choose Alexander Mills sentenced him to 5 years in jail. Moreover, Lester was banned from serving as an organization director for the subsequent 9 years.
Journey scams are more and more widespread, with new victims coming ahead annually. Simply final December, a bunch of girls from Florida reported being deceived by faux reservation numbers and reserving confirmations.
The issue has change into so widespread that companies just like the Federal Bureau of Investigation now warning vacationers to be cautious of offers that appear too good to be true.
