Conman targeted the elderly to defraud them out of millions

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Conman targeted the elderly to defraud them out of millionsImage source, ContributedImage caption, Olive and Donald Matthews thought they were safeguarding their future by signing over their house to UWP in 2008ByAlice Cunningham, Suffolk, Alex Dunlop and Alex BishPublished18 July 2026, 05:00 BSTUpdated 2 hours agoEighty-year-old Donald Matthews thought he was safeguarding his family's future when he signed over his house in 2008 to a company he was assured would protect his assets. But after his death in 2016, the company called Universal Wealth Preservation (UWP) sold his home in Suffolk for hundreds of thousands of pounds and Matthews' children saw none of the money. Later it would be uncovered that the head of UWP, Steven Long, 59, from Kesgrave near Ipswich, had defrauded Matthews along with 114 other people using the same scam leading to a combined loss of more than £11m.

Donald's son, Paul Matthews, described Long's actions as "disgusting" as Long was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Image source, ERSOUImage caption, Steven Long was sentenced to eight years and four months in jailPaul, 67, a retired postman from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said that in 2008 his father received a flyer explaining how to protect his assets by entrusting his home over to Long and UWP. The aim, Paul said, was "to protect the house from being used for care home fees at a later date" so it could be left to relatives to sell.

The Details

Paul did not think his father sought advice, but said he was of sound mind when he signed over his home, paying £3,500 upfront and £211 per year to UWP. Image source, Alex Dunlop/BBCImage caption, Paul Matthews from Suffolk said he lost hundreds of thousands to UWP after his dad diedAfter his father died in December 2016 aged 89, followed by his wife Olive who died in 2017 aged 89, Paul began to make arrangements to sell their home in Beyton, near Bury St Edmunds, with UWP. He first believed "everything was going according to plan", but by January 2018, Paul started to worry after the sale felt it was taking too long and the communication became poor.

"The trust is supposed to send the money to the beneficiaries, in this case me and my brother, which they never did, they kept it," he said. The home sold for £260,000, but Paul never saw any of the money which left him "angry". He sought help from a solicitor who suggested contacting the police and officers confirmed they had heard from other potential victims.

Image source, ContributedImage caption, Donald Matthews believed he had signed over his home so his children could sell it in the future rather than use it for care home fees"My parents have worked all their lives to provide for their children and their grandchildren ultimately and that's been stolen," Paul said. "I think it's disgusting... I don't trust anyone anymore," he added.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.