Protect your company against scams |
|
 |
There are many deceptive scams which businesses need to be on their guard for. This page lists some of the latest and most dangerous ones. For more information on each one, click on the blue link. If you have knowledge of a scam that we have not included here, we would like to hear from you. Please find contact details below. Click here for a short advice sheet about scams with useful contact numbers and basic advice. How the scam works: You receive a fax or e-mail purpoting to be notification of a lottery win. The scam email/fax claims that the recipient has won money in an international lottery. The email/fax is an attempt to initiate a dialogue with potential victims and subsequently trick them into sending money to the scammers responsible. There is no such lottery and no prize money. For a full list of lottery scams click on the link above. Fund Transfer Scams (May 2005) How the scam works: You receive a telephone call or e-mail, or might see an advert in the newspaper or on the internet. You'll be asked to receive a payment into your bank or building society account, take it out as cash, and then send it abroad using other means (such as a money-transfer service as offered in many high street shops). For helping out, you'll be offered a nice little commission (often 6-7%). How the scam works: Small companies are contacted, usually by phone, with requests for participating in advertisements in a range of publications. However, these publications may fall far short of the sales pitch given by the telesales team doing the promoting and in some cases, don't exist at all. African Investment Opportunities How the scam works: You are often sent an e mail from an African source requesting help moving money. In return you are promised a substantial financial reward for helping. How the scam works: They offer to process the application (this is not onerous and can be completed online) on your behalf and charge upwards of £95 for that service. Unsolicited Business Guide Entries How the scam works: Companies are sent a letter which looks looks like an invoice for entry into a (often European) database. However the small print often binds the company into a longer term contract which can only be cancelled by registered letter. How the scam works: Companies are sent requests for payment in return for compliance with Health and Safety Regulations How the scam works: Firms receive mail-shots inviting them to register their trade marks in a new directory. While not illegal, the directories involved have no legal significance.How the scam works: High street service frauds often consist of a forged email which links to a forged web page or site which looks as though it is from a high street service provider, often a bank. Under a phoney pretext they ask for personal or financial details. How the scam works: Fake agencies contact companies stating that either their website address is due for expiry and requesting money for maintaining it or stating that a 'competitor' is due to register with a similar domain name and asking for money to stop this supposed registration. Money Laundering Legislation compliance How the scam works: Companies receive an official-looking letter informing them they must pay £75 per employee to comply with an anti-money laundering scheme contacted by a company.
|
 Homepage | Membership | Training | International Trade ChamberSign | News | Policy | Events Diary | Contact
|
|
