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Employers should take note of a new scam that focuses on businesses that
are registered on the Companies House database, according to Early Warning,
the fraud prevention firm.
The fraudster will search the internet to find details of a particular
limited company, such as a postal address of the head office and its registered
company number. Armed with this information, it is then a simple exercise
for the fraudster to access Form 287 on the Companies House website and
change the registered office of the limited company whose details they
have accessed. The new registered address could be a mailbox address,
or even a short-let residential property.
Once the form is completed and submitted, Companies House will then make
the necessary amendments to its database. The fraudster is then at liberty
to start opening trade accounts and ordering goods to be delivered to
the bogus address.
" Every Limited company should check their registered office details
on the Companies House website and this should probably be done every
month or so... warned Andrew Goodwill, managing director of Early Warning.
"It is our belief that Companies House has no responsibility to validate
the details contained in Form 287 and that it may even require legislative
changes to get them to do so."
Companies House has responded to the threat with the introduction of two
electronic services.
Protected Online Filing, introduced on January 17, accepts specific statutory
forms in electronic format only, refusing paper submission, which increases
the threat of fraud.
The Companies House Monitor service allows customers to check which documents
are being filed with the group, alerting them to any unauthorised changes
to their company records.
"This kind of fraud is still rare, but is growing," said Tom
Smith, director of customer delivery at Companies House. "That is
why we are offering our customers a simple plan to protect themselves.
"
Further information source: www.startups.co.uk
If you feel you may have a problem with this issue and wish to discuss
it call Stuart Atkinson on 01482 226791
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