BB FANS
http://www.bbfans.co.uk/

X Factor online betting scam suspected
http://www.bbfans.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=23717		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  JimD [ 14 Dec 05, 18:05 ]
Post subject:  X Factor online betting scam suspected
14 December 2005

Reality television show 'The X Factor' has reportedly been targeted by betting fraudsters, who place large amounts of money on acts directly before the results of the show are announced.

According to ITV, online betting company Betfair became suspicious of betting activity when substantial amounts of money were being placed on acts immediately before the results of the public vote were revealed.

It is thought that the punters placing the bets may have received inside information from telecommunications workers who had access to the results of the public phone votes before they were announced during the live broadcast.

According to reports, a spokesperson for Betfair said: "In this case we found a link, we have spoken to the police to see if they want to take it further."

Reports have suggested that the amount of money won on the bets exceeded £100,000.

The final of the reality show will take place this weekend, with Shayne Ward, Andy Abraham and Journey South due to battle it out for the 'X Factor' title.

From RTE
Author:  JimD [ 15 Dec 05, 22:54 ]
Post subject:  REALITY TV BET SCAM
15 December 2005
Mirror
By Andy Lines And Martin Fricker

THREE of the men allegedly behind the £105,000 reality TV betting scam yesterday insisted their winnings were merely down to skill.

One jobless suspect said he had made up to £1,000 a time cleverly placing wagers.

But the 30-year-old - whom for legal reasons the Daily Mirror is naming only as Suspect 2 - said: "I'm not part of any betting ring.

"I mostly bet on reality shows because it's often obvious who's going to get voted off.

"I'm unemployed, so I sit around all day doing nothing except watching television.

"I get to know the contestants really well and have a knack of guessing which will be voted off."

He made his biggest killing of £1,000 when Maria was surprisingly booted off the X Factor.

He added: "I got good odds on Maria but nobody gave me inside info. I was shocked and didn't know what they were on about."

Yesterday we told how five men were said to have raked in tens of thousands in the scam involving unsuspecting online firm Betfair.

It is believed a BT insider tipped them off about phone poll results on shows such as I'm A Celebrity, Strictly Come Dancing and Hell's Kitchen minutes before they were announced on air.

Suspect 2 admitted his dad worked for BT but denied getting insider knowledge from him.

Two other men tracked down by the Mirror also maintained their innocence yesterday.

One, whom we are calling Suspect 1, is a 30-year-old graduate allegedly at the head of the plot.

But speaking from his home in Colindale, North-West London, he said: "I'm not involved in any illegal activity. I used my skills watching the programme to make my bets. I just watch what's going on and then make bets from there.

"I look at internet websites and get information from there. I get no inside information."

Another member of the alleged ring - whom we are calling Suspect 3 - admitted gambling on shows such as the X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing but also denied wrongdoing.

The 32-year-old, speaking outside his home in Enfield, North London, said: "I've done nothing wrong.

"I bet on lots of different things, lots of the different reality TV shows, but there's nothing wrong with that.

"I look at all the voting polls on the websites to see what's happening before I bet. I don't know anything about a betting scam."

He added: "I've made lots of losing bets recently as well as winning ones. I go down as well as up."

X Factor judge Simon Cowell thanked the Mirror for its expose of the alleged fraud.

He said: "I'm glad it's come out before the final on Saturday rather than in three weeks' time."

The alleged fraudsters have walked away with over £60,000 in winnings. Another £45,000 has been frozen in accounts.

All three men admitted their Betfair accounts were now on hold. Suspect 2 said: "I asked Betfair why my account was suspended and they said they suspected there was some kind of insider knowledge. If I had insider knowledge, I wouldn't have lost money on bets.

"But I have got the wrong contestant on a number of occasions.

"I'm just a member of the public who likes a bet." Police, BT and Betfair are all investigating.

BT said: "We've launched an urgent investigation into the allegations in the Daily Mirror, but we cannot say more at this stage.

"However, we would like to make clear that this does not affect the integrity of the result.

And an X Factor spokesman added: "We'd like to be very clear that whether true or not, this alleged scam would not have affected the integrity of the results in any way."
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC + 1 hour [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/