Richardson Hartley Law is investigating how it can help investors who have lost money in the Vashi Diamonds Scam.
When the luxury jewellery business collapsed in 2023 with £170m worth of debts it became clear that the whole venture was a fraud.
Diamond dealer Vashi Dominguez duped scores of investors into handing over millions of pounds with the promise that the retail chain held £157m worth of stock. The liquidation process revealed that the true worth of the remaining diamonds was around £100,000. Accounts filed at Companies House claimed sales of more than £100 million in 2021, but internal documents showed the real sales figures that year were only £5 million
Staff at the stores were told to pose as customers to help trick investors into parting with money.
The scam involved Dominguez creating detailed business plans and accounts to help convince investors that the brand, Vashi, represented a great investment opportunity.
High profile investors such as mobile phone billionaire, John Caudwell, and the former boss of sandwich chain Pret a Manger, Clive Schlee, fell victim to the sophisticated Vashi diamonds scam.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) previously ignored reports from a whistleblower that the venture was a scam a year before the business collapsed.
Dominguez remains at large after fleeing the UK for Dubai the day the company collapsed.
It is understood that the SFO is still refusing to investigate the alleged scam, claiming that it does not meet their criteria as a complex economic crime. Similarly, it is believed that Metropolitan Police, as of the start of 2026, had not launched an investigation as they had not received a formal referral from the liquidators or the Insolvency Service.
At Richardson Hartley Law we have a proven track record of helping clients who have lost money through fraudulent investment schemes to successfully recover their money.
We are examining a number of options to see how we can help investors to recover money lost in the Vashi diamonds scam. This includes using the banks’ fraud reimbursement schemes and wider group litigation claims.
Richardson Hartley Law is able to represent some clients on a no win, no fee basis.