A global web of businesses, banks and tax havens used by international crime gangs and fraudsters has been created by a family-owned company in Britain, an investigation has revealed.

Leaked documents show links to businesses set up by Formations House, a London-based company that establishes and helps to manage companies, and scams involving more than £300 million.

These include vintage wine frauds, fake stock market tipsters, dodgy gold and diamond traders, overpriced land investment schemes and a Hollywood heist carried out by a bogus aristocrat.

The documents show that the “formation agent” has repeatedly failed to carry out proper due diligence on clients and has set up companies for known fraudsters and organised criminals.

It can be revealed today that:



• The owner of Formations