Langton Howarth is a well-known British businessman and philanthropist. However, his name and profile have been co-opted by scammers on a massive scale worldwide through an elaborate scam known as the “Langton Howarth scam”.
Keep reading to learn more about this ingenious yet harmful scam, how it works, statistics on its prevalence and growth, expert advice on avoidance, and ongoing legal actions against the perpetrators.
Also Read: Kogan Recruitment Scam Canada: BEWARE of Fake Job Offer
What is the Langton Howarth scam?
The Langton Howarth scam first emerged in the UK in 2018 and has since spread internationally. It involves scammers impersonating Langton Howarth, a businessman and philanthropist believed to be based in London. The scammers send unsolicited WhatsApp messages to potential victims, claiming to be Howarth.
In the initial message, the scammer introduces themselves as Langton Howarth and engages the victim in friendly small talk to build rapport. Once a conversation is started, the scammer will then claim they need help transferring a large sum of money out of the country due to various fabricated hardships or emergencies.
To foster trust, scammers may share supposed “proof” of their identity like photos of Langton Howarth or documents with his name. They promise the victim a significant cash reward or commission for helping transfer the funds, often through money transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram.
Of course, once any funds are sent by the victim, the money disappears and the scammer ceases all contact. The real Langton Howarth has no connection to these scams and does not engage in illegal money transfers or other fraudulent activities.
Understanding the Langton Howarth Scam
At its core, the Langton Howarth scam is a sophisticated impersonation fraud where scammers pose as Langton Howarth himself via messaging platforms like WhatsApp. They send unsolicited messages to potential victims, claiming to need help transferring large sums of money out of the country due to emergencies or legal issues.
Scammers build rapport by engaging victims in friendly small talk before dangling lucrative cash rewards, often 25-35% commissions, for assistance with money transfers using services like Western Union or MoneyGram. Naturally, once funds are sent they disappear without a trace.
The real Langton Howarth has no involvement whatsoever. Scammers create the illusion of legitimacy through fabricated backstories and forged documents featuring Langton Howarth’s name and profile details. With worldwide reach, it has become one of the most widespread and concerning impersonation scams today.
Statistics on the Alarming Growth of the Langton Howarth Scam
Since 2018, reports of the Langton Howarth scam have grown exponentially each year as scammers continue to adapt their techniques. Here are some key statistics that illustrate its rising prevalence:
In 2018, Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting center, received just 16 reports related to the Langton Howarth scam. By 2021, that number had ballooned to over 2,500 reports.
The scam has spread beyond the UK—Australia’s Scamwatch reports over 1,700 Austrailians lost over $3.6 million AUD in Langton Howarth scams from January 2020 to November 2021.
As of January 2022, it is one of the top 10 most reported scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), with thousands of cases originating from the US.
The real Langton Howarth has received over 25,000 WhatsApp messages from strangers regarding the scam since it began, with that number still rising daily according to his representatives.
Total estimated global losses from the Langton Howarth scam now exceed $150 million USD, though the real amounts are likely much higher due to unreported cases.
As you can see, this scam has grown exponentially and shows no signs of slowing down. Its success is due to a combination of factors like WhatsApp’s reach, socially engineered manipulation tactics, and fake documentation techniques used by sophisticated scammers.
The scale of the Langton Howarth scam is truly astounding based on data collected from leading consumer protection agencies globally:
| Year | UK Action Fraud Reports | Australian Scamwatch Reports | FBI IC3 Reports (USA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 16 reports | N/A | Few hundred |
| 2019 | 500 reports | 400 reports ($1.2m lost) | 1000+ reports |
| 2020 | 1000 reports | 700 reports ($2m lost) | 2500+ reports |
| 2021 | 2500+ reports | 1700 reports ($3.6m lost) | 4000+ reports |
Additional findings show it is now one of the top 10 most reported scams to the IC3. Total estimated global losses exceed $150 million USD. These numbers continue rising rapidly each year as scammers’ tactics evolve on messaging platforms. The scale and complexity of the Langton Howarth scam point to involvement of organized criminal operations.
How scammers convince victims
A key part of the Langton Howarth scam’s success lies in the methods scammers use to manipulate victims and gain their trust. Here are some of the most commonly reported techniques:
Building rapport through casual chat – Scammers spend time getting to know victims, asking questions to seem empathetic and trustworthy before broaching the topic of money.
Seeming trustworthy through small acts of generosity – Early on, scammers may offer small monetary gifts like £20-50 or gift cards to further convince victims of their purported good intentions and wealth.
Playing on emotions with fabricated hardships – Stories range from struggling family members to legal/tax issues requiring emergency funds transfers, eliciting sympathy to compromise critical thinking.
Sharing fake documents as “proof” – Scammers share Photoshopped IDs, contracts, bank statements with Langton Howarth’s name and Fallbrook Limited’s logo to seem legitimate.
Using urgency as leverage – Victims are pressured to act quickly before an arbitrary “deadline,” limiting ability to verify claims or seek outside opinions.
Promising lucrative compensation – Rewards of 25-35% commissions are dangled to motivate greed and suspend disbelief of scammers’ unbelievable propositions.
Isolating victims from support – Instructions are given only through WhatsApp to bypass friends/family second opinions and maintain singular control over the narrative.
Through skilled social engineering and manipulation of human psychology, scammers are able to convince even reasonably intelligent victims that illegal money transfers present no risks. Understanding how they operate can help identify red flags.
Demographics Most Vulnerable to the Scam
While no one is immune, certain demographics tend to be more vulnerable targets for the Langton Howarth scam based on reported case studies:
- Middle-aged to elderly individuals – Those above 50 often less familiar with modern scams and more inclined to trust promises of financial help.
- Recent immigrants – Struggling to adjust to a new country or language barrier leaves some more easily misled by scammers posing as trustworthy confidants.
- Lonely individuals – Being socially isolated increases likelihood of engaging with unsolicited chats and susceptibility to flattery-based manipulation tactics.
- Financially stressed – Hardships like job losses, debts, health issues could motivate risky money-making propositions one would normally write off.
- Less tech-savvy – Older generations and those unfamiliar with verifying online identities may be less equipped to identify scam signs.
- Culturally communal – Ethnic groups that place strong emphasis on community/hospitality could underestimate kindness of strangers.
Of course, educated and experienced individuals have also fallen victim given the convincing socially engineered techniques scammers employ. Remain vigilant regardless of demographic.
Expert Advice for Avoiding Impersonation Scams
With the Langton Howarth scam continually evolving, it’s critical the public arm themselves with knowledge to avoid falling prey. Here are recommendations from leading consumer protection agencies:
- Never send money or provide financial details to strangers. Legitimate people and organizations will never ask for money transfers as the primary way of conducting business.
- Do careful online research. If contacted unexpectedly, search the names/topics involved thoroughly to uncover any scam reports or verify personal claims. Fact check everything.
- Be wary of urgent requests. Scammers leverage fear and time pressure to bypass rational thinking. Take time to verify stories independently before acting on calls for quick funding decisions.
- Avoid isolation tactics. Scammers want sole control over communication to manipulate their narratives. Consult friends/family before engaging with unfamiliar contacts requesting money help privately.
- Never share passwords or verification codes. Scammers may request these under false pretenses of verifying identities. Sharing enables account access/theft, so avoid disclosing details about financial institutions.
- Recognize common scam stories. Tales involving delayed inheritance payouts, family/legal issues abroad needing emergency cash, work-from-home money transfer jobs are classic scam tropes meant to mislead.
Staying informed on current schemes and being alert rather than impulsively trusting of opportunistic promises are among the best defenses against financial manipulation via scams like those targeting the Langton Howarth name. Remain vigilant, verify claims, and seek separate opinions if ever in doubt.
Action being taken against scammers
While individual scam victims face significant financial losses, law enforcement agencies worldwide are ramping up coordinated efforts against sophisticated transnational scam rings driven by organized crime syndicates. Here are some notable ongoing initiatives:
Increased scam reporting infrastructure – Sites like Action Fraud and IC3 continuously refine online reporting tools to gather more intelligence on scammer tactics and identify networks through common threads across victim testimony.
Expanded cross-border collaboration – Agencies like Interpol, Europol and the FBI have set up international task forces focusing on cybercriminal enterprises, sharing intelligence across borders to dismantle far-reaching operations at their core.
Deployment of undercover investigators – Skilled investigators now frequently engage with scammers posing as victims to gather digital evidence and trace funds/identities, leading to numerous high-profile arrest operations worldwide in recent years.
Strengthened anti-money laundering regulations – Blocking illicit funds enablesHitsuts the dismantling of large-scale syndicates. Major payment providers have bolstered vetting/monitoring systems and work closely with authorities to flag suspicious patterns.
Public education campaigning – Beyond prosecuting offenders, increasing community awareness through information sharing helps curb the ulnerability supply that enables scams to flourish. An informed populace is scammers’ biggest threat.
While scams will likely remain an ongoing challenge, law enforcers collaborating internationally and adapting to new digitally-enabled fraud techniques provide hope. With continued diligence, many victims may see justice while others learn to protect themselves.
Conclusion
By leveraging digital communities, skilled social engineering and sophisticated money laundering, scammers behind operations like that of Langton Howarth have caused immense financial and emotional harm.
However, through careful vigilance, open information sharing and coordinated global enforcement efforts, their exploited vulnerabilities can be gradually closed off.
While such scams can understandably cause confusion and concern, it is reassuring to see Langton Howarth address this issue publicly and provide clarity. As the founder notes, impersonators on WhatsApp are attempting to exploit the good name and reputation the company has worked to build.
It is wise for Mr. Howarth to emphasize that Langton Howarth would never solicit job candidates or make requests over WhatsApp, as maintaining professional standards is paramount.
His transparency in sharing details of the scamming tactics also serves to better inform the public and potentially help identify other fraudulent actors.
The request not to leave negative reviews seems reasonable, given the company has no involvement in these impersonation attempts. At the same time, allowing reports to be submitted directly to the company provides an avenue for collaboration with authorities seeking evidence against scammers.
Overall, this post models an appropriate response for a reputable business encountering associate themselves being misused and impersonated online.
By clarifying their authentic practices while actively discouraging harmful behavior, Langton Howarth upholds their stated commitment to integrity. With continued vigilance and open communication, hopefully victims of such scams can be minimized going forward.
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