Reality TV gang target X Factor in betting scam

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 14-Dec-05, 09:00

LONDON - It is normally bookies and reality shows who exploit the public, but they had the tables turned on them by five people who made more than £100,000 betting on the results of phone votes for shows such as 'X Factor'.

According to the Daily Mirror, the gang are believed to have had inside knowledge of the vote count for several reality TV shows, from the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing' to Channel 4's 'Big Brother'.

Furnished with the results before they were broadcast, the gang would place bets on with betting website Betfair.

Staff at Betfair noticed the pattern of bets being placed only minutes before the results were announced, as the gang began to put down increasingly large sums.

They are believed to have accumulated £105,000 in their Betfair account and to have withdrawn £60,000 before the account was frozen and police were called.

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