A convicted investment fraudster has been jailed for six years and seven months after failing to pay a confiscation order.

The Serious Fraud Office is investigating the Alpha and Green Park group of companies for misleading investors and money laundering.

Fraud losses leapt by 30% in the first half of the year as criminals turned to investment frauds increasingly pushed via social media.

Just 1 in 700 reported fraud cases reported in 2019 resulted in a conviction, despite an increase in the number of investment frauds reported.