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'Share scam' duo face Florida court

A 'boiler room' scam selling worthless shares to UK consumers has been uncovered by investigators in America.

Florida residents Paul and Zibiah Gunter, who are father and daughter, stand accused by a state court of embezzling money from around 15,000 people, the BBC reports.

It has been claimed that all of the shares that the pair sold on to their mainly elderly customers were for 'dormant' firms.

Head of the investigation Robert Weber commented: "These two criminals demonstrated a callous disregard for the hard earned money of individuals who thought that they were legitimately investing in their futures.

"[We] will continue working with its law enforcement partners here and abroad to hold criminals involved in stock fraud accountable for their actions."

Speaking to the broadcaster Scott Broom, a Glasgow resident who claims that he handed over £27,000 for worthless stocks, said that he first realised that he had been tricked when he received a number of similar shares-selling calls following his dealings with the Gunters.

"I was told the money was being held by Paul Gunter, who claimed to be an escrow agent - an independent intermediary between the investor and the company - but he refused to return my money," he said.

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