01653531241

I got scammed too, by someone called Vanessa. I ended up handing over £150 back on 15/12/21, then another £299 on 31/3/22. It all began with an ad on Facebook, which I replied to. They kept me hanging, saying I was due a refund of £9500 and that their legal team was busy sorting my claim out. I posted a warning on Facebook to try and stop others falling for it, but then a man phoned me, threatening to sue me for libel if I didn’t remove the comment. I’ve accepted I won’t get that money back, especially since it’s been such a long time, but I’m considering reporting it if it might help someone.

Can anyone tell me his address?

I’m trying to put together a record of the different dealings involving Vanessa Laithwaite, Callum Laithwaite, Callum Smith, or anyone linked to them, both from the past and currently. If you’ve had any interactions with these people, please send me a little info at [email protected]. You can stay anonymous if you want. Please include: 1. The name of the individual you dealt with 2. The business or group they spoke to you through 3. The service they offered 4. Any postal address they gave 5. Email addresses they used 6. Any phone numbers provided 7. When and how much money you paid them 8. Whether you got any money back or not This info is just to get a clearer idea of what they’ve been up to and how far their activities reach, so we can figure out what steps to take next.

Has anyone else dealt with Night Owl Ltd? I got tricked into paying £150 for a mortgage refund that never happened, and they didn’t do any work at all. I’m trying to find out if anyone managed to get a Police crime report number for this?

I tried sorting out my unpaid wages using ACAS and even managed to get a writ from the higher court. But the company kept shifting around and altering their business names, which basically made the writ useless. Honestly, it feels like a waste of time dealing with all that.

I noticed that Vanessa Laithwaite and Callum Laithwaite are listed here too: https://who-calls.me.uk/phone/01133227744. Thought it might be useful for others looking into this number.

There’s this saying I heard once, something like, “don’t get on the wrong side of anyone eating your grub on their own!” Even if I hit a century, I’ll still chuckle thinking about Vanessa and Callum Laithwaite’s little piggy mugs scoffing my secret sauce. They definitely paid the price whenever they got on my nerves!

Did you think about reporting this to Action Fraud? Maybe they could help with what's going on.

I really hope these crooks get found out! The pay was always late without fail. They demanded so much from the staff and wore us right down. I worked for this nasty little woman and her unpleasant son. They used to show up at the bar acting like they owned the entire place. They were the ones behind Bar 46 over in the market square in Malton, North Yorkshire. They actually stole the tips we’d worked hard for and then shut the place down “for renovations,” using our tips to cover costs! They couldn’t handle running a bath, let alone a bar or restaurant, since they drank and ate through all the profits. Honestly, I’m pretty sure Callum was tucking into steak every single shift. Wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up behind bars. Proper con artists cruising around in fancy cars, living off everyone else’s hard work. I heard Callum’s now at the Stone Trough Pub just off the A64 near Abbey. Hopefully justice catches up with them soon.

Managed to track down a number and email for Vanessa Laithwaite online. The phone is 07951487078 and the email appears to be hidden but accessible through the usual protection method.

Callum and Vanessa Laithwaite are total fraudsters. It’s good to hear others are reporting them to Action Fraud because I reported them ages ago and lost £400 in a mortgage scam. I keep an eye on any updates about these two because I want to stay informed. The more people who speak up about what these two are doing, the better chance the police have of cracking down on their scams. It’s crazy how they carry on scamming folks every day and still manage to avoid getting caught. I really hope one day soon they get nabbed and serve a proper prison sentence.

If anyone knows anything about people called Callum Smith or Lathwaite, and Vanessa Laithwaite or Smith, please get in touch with Action Fraud and West Yorkshire Police straight away. They’re looking into them, so any info you’ve got could really help. Cheers!

Vanessa Laithwaite, born on 19th January 1962, with National Insurance starting WM82 ** ** B. She lives at 1 Hutton Hall Flats, High Hutton, Huttons Ambo, York YO60 7HW.

They go by BDP BDPGROUPUK LTD with the company number 14881849. Vanessa Smith is listed as the director on Companies House. I’ve just handed in a report to Action Fraud as well. Hopefully there’s enough proof to take action now. If anyone else has fallen victim, I’d suggest you report it too.

According to the info, she was born in 1972. But I know for a fact she’s actually in her 60s.

The number 07494120560 has recently changed.

Is this a new number for Callum Smith or someone from Laithwaite?

It's quite something what you've gone through with Callum Laithwaite and Vanessa Laithwaite and their dodgy dealings. Have you thought about letting the police know by reporting it to Action Fraud? Also, if they’re holding back your pay, you might want to get in touch with ACAS to help sort things out.

Back in June, I was offered the role of Marketing Director at Buzzwork Digital based in Wetherby, with the recruitment handled by Callum Smith and Vanessa Laithewaite. Right from the start, the hiring process felt off - they never asked for any of my application documents, and after I accepted the job, there was zero talk about pay or contracts. That was my first warning sign. The company’s office was at 5 Cromwell Park, York Road Industrial Estate in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 7SU. On day one, I immediately noticed some worrying things. The firm seemed to juggle over ten different bank accounts, constantly shifting money around. Within just a month, they’d collected more than £120,000 from clients for marketing services that were never actually provided. It was clear from the disorganisation and lack of proper processes that this wasn’t a genuine business. Things felt even worse on my second day, and soon after, a message popped up on Facebook from a past client explaining how they’d been scammed by Buzzwork. That was the final straw for me. I decided to hand in my resignation on the morning of day three. Calling Callum to explain didn’t go well - he took it badly and showed his true colours. Vanessa promised I’d be paid for the two days I’d worked by the end of the month, but I’m still waiting on that payment. Now, both of them have blocked me from contacting them. For anyone who wants to know, Callum’s phone number is 07375952720, and his email is [email protected] Vanessa’s email is [email protected]. The company’s address again is Cromwell Park, York Road Industrial Estate, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 7SU. Honestly, I feel incredibly lucky to have quit so early. I dread to think what kind of mess I’d be stuck in - probably working without pay - if I’d stayed longer!

Really appreciate you sharing what happened with Callum and Vanessa Laithwaite and their dodgy stories. It takes guts to come forward like that and warn others before they get caught up in all that. Wishing you all the best going forward, mate.

It was a few weeks back when I found out he actually scammed me as one of his customers.

This number, 07375952720, called me the other day but now it just won't pick up when I try ringing back. Strange.

Do you remember the last time he called you from that number?

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ Try to provide all the info you have and describe why you think you’ve been scammed. The more details, the better.

Blimey, that was too close for comfort! Do you know if the police are already on this? And what’s the best way to report these lot?

I’ve just worked out the scammers have moved to Buzzwork at 5 Cromwell Park, York Road Industrial Estate in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 7SU. Has anyone reported this to the cops? Who should I get in touch with about this? They robbed me under the name Buzzwork Digital and now, no matter how many times I ring, they just won’t pick up. The woman called herself Vanessa Laithewaite and the bloke said he was Callum Smith, but I heard on here his real name might be Callum Laithewaite? And apparently that’s his mum involved too? Does anyone have a police case number for this? I just can’t believe they’re getting away with it like this!

You should definitely report this to Action Fraud. The more people that complain, the better chance they have to look into it properly. They’ll need some kind of proof or evidence from you though. https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

If anyone has had dealings with these lot and ended up out of pocket, could you share a quick rundown of: 1. the name of the firm you were dealing with and when this happened 2. what exactly they said they’d provide 3. the amount of cash you ended up losing?

I’m putting together a record of the different businesses and dealings involving Vanessa Laithwaite, Callum Laithwaite, Callum Smith, and anyone linked to them from before up to now. If you’ve had contact with any of these people, please share some basic details by emailing [email protected]. You don’t have to give your name if you’d rather stay anonymous. Please include: 1. Who you spoke with. 2. The company or group they said they came from. 3. The kind of service or offer they made. 4. Any mailing address they might have given you. 5. Email addresses provided by them, if any. 6. Phone numbers they shared. 7. The amount of money you sent over and when. 8. Whether you got any money back or not. Right now, all this info is to help piece together what they’ve been up to and how far it goes, so that we can figure out what steps to take next.

Got a missed call from 0113 322 7744, said it was Callum Smith from Buzzwork Digital Marketing. Tried ringing back but no one picked up.

Has anybody got an idea what name Buzzwork Digital Partners LLC is registered under at Companies House? I’ve seen these names linked to it: Callum Smith, Callum Laithwaite, and Vanessa Laithwaite. They’re also connected to a few other firms like Laithwaite Construction and Inside Access Solutions. Cheers for any info!

I got ripped off for £1000 by some company called buzzwork. Since then, they’ve ghosted me and don’t pick up any of my calls!

She’s listed a different company on her LinkedIn now, and honestly, it seems like yet another one of those dodgy buzzwork scams.

If anyone knows anything about these two individuals, please share your contact info so we can look into it more closely. Rest assured, your information will stay confidential and you won’t have to give a statement unless you want to. Right now, we’re just gathering everyone's experiences to get a better understanding of what they've been up to.

Does anyone know about this guy's property scam? I’m pretty sure he’s conning people out of their cash by tricking them and then pocketing it for himself, all the while denying everything.

We're really keen on this info as it might help with our look into Callum Laithwaite, who’s now going by Callum Smith, and his links to property investment scams.

Vanessa Laithwait rang me once more today, claiming my mortgage claim was in progress, then suddenly saying they'd received documents showing I supposedly owed an undisclosed commission fee. Now they’re demanding £299. Honestly, it’s shocking they keep trying to con people like this. It’s beyond belief. People like them deserve serious consequences. My advice, steer well clear and do your homework - it’s all just a massive scam. Definitely report them to Action Fraud. This individual really should be stopped and behind bars permanently.

I once had a job at that dreadful place, the bar called No.46 over in Malton, and the atmosphere there was absolutely horrible. There was this guy going by the name ‘Callum Smith,’ but turns out his real name was ‘Callum Laithwaite,’ and he’s the son of some lady called ‘Vanessa Laithwaite.’ From what I gather, they must've switched their names when they decided to bolt from all the debts they owed. Plus, the place was apparently a hotspot for drug dealing, which probably played a role in why they vanished without a trace. They acted like they were above everyone else, all clever and untouchable, but from what I’ve heard, anyone who worked for or dealt with them ended up down a fair bit of money. They were certainly no friends to anyone around.

I also got caught up in a scam, this time involving someone named Callum Smith. I spoke on the phone with a lady called Natalie Bennet too, though I have no idea if those names are genuine. I used my credit card to pay, but luckily they’re refunding me now and gave me a temporary crime reference. They advised me to report it to Action Fraud UK, which I have done. Just a heads up, don’t bother calling the numbers they advertise - they just lead to an answerphone. From what I’m told, the police fraud team are handling the case.

The address they show on their website seems more like a small rental office instead of a real company headquarters. Looks a bit dodgy to me.

Do you happen to know the Leeds address where it looks like she’s working from?

I’d suggest reporting it over at www.actionfraud.police.uk, that’s the best place to handle stuff like this.

Vanessa Laithwaite seems to be carrying on with the same con but now using the name [THE REFUND COMPANY]. She’s got a new phone number and a different address in Leeds, according to what I saw on her LinkedIn.

Just a heads up, Vanessa isn’t legit. She’ll take your cash and then disappear without any results. The cops are already checking into this scam. Stay clear!

Yeah, this horrible person conned me out of £400 when I was feeling really rough. I won’t be the last victim of Vanessa Lairhwaite, she’s truly disgusting. Do yourself a favour and check everything thoroughly first - I didn’t and it cost me. The company was called The Mortgage Refund and the payment went to Night Owl Capital or something like that, but neither seem legit. Avoid them both! Honestly, she’s a right nightmare. Hope one day someone catches her and she faces proper justice.

I ended up getting scammed by this woman. I did a bit of digging on Companies House and LinkedIn, and I found out her name is Vanessa Laithwaite. I also got a family member up North to check out the address listed on their site. Apparently, the place in Malton, Yorkshire had eviction signs slapped on the door. When he chatted with someone running a nearby shop, they mentioned knowing Vanessa from when she managed a wine bar there. They described her as a short, overweight woman who wasn’t exactly pleasant. She could still be living around there, so I’m gonna keep looking.

So this woman, calling herself Vanessa, totally conned me out of £300 at the start, saying it was for taking my case to court. Then she phones me today asking for an extra £500. I got suspicious when she mentioned losing the 25% discount on the mortgage payout because apparently it’s "too high"! I’ve emailed her telling her I’m going to report her. But to whom exactly should I report this?

Some woman called Vanessa rang me, saying she’s from Night Owl Capital. Turns out the company is actually inactive, just found that out today. It’s all a big con. I’m proper annoyed ’cause I already gave her £300. She tried asking for another £500 today, but I refused. I also told her I knew it was dodgy and was gonna report her… but not sure who to report to?

I ended up spending £150, which was a total waste.

I've had loads of calls from someone named Vanessa asking me to pay an extra £299. It's gotten really annoying now.

It seems that the individuals behind this business have been involved with approximately 18 different enterprises over the last decade and have consistently failed to submit any financial statements for them. This raises a lot of red flags. Definitely feels like a con.

A mate of mine got taken for a ride by these crooks. Honestly, they’re just despicable individuals.

Spotted this number again on another website: ... mortgagerefunds ... uk No question it's a scam - best avoid it!

I’m curious about that as well.

Has anyone heard anything new about this? It sounds like there might be something to these claims, but I’m quite sceptical like most folks... so I’d really like to get some more info before jumping to conclusions.

I missed a call from this lot while I was away from home. Did a bit of digging online and discovered that others have flagged this number as a scam linked to mortgage refunds. Just a heads up, stay vigilant!

I received a rather unexpected call today informing me that I am supposedly eligible for a refund on my mortgage, which frankly strikes me as quite implausible. It appears this number is associated with Night Owl Capital, a company I’ve never come across before. Quite puzzling, to say the least!

This is almost certainly a con. When I looked up the number, it came up connected to ‘Night Owl Capital’ and ‘Night Owl Mortgage Refunds’. I checked their Company Reg No. on Companies House and the company is listed as dormant with zero trading activity. My brother, who’s a lawyer, reckons it’s really dodgy and that the stuff on their website is totally misleading and not true at all.

The idea of getting money back on mortgages just seems too good to be real. They’re asking for £150 per mortgage right from the start but haven’t given any clear info about contracts or anything solid. Seems a bit dodgy to me.