CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > February/March 2021 21 PLANT THEFT: 2 • Search the business name and/or directors’/proprietor/partners’ names with other suppliers you may come across by referring to out of area news reports or other information that will help you. • Check phone numbers by either dialling them or use the internet to search for any reports of misuse. Is the telephone number ringing and is it a normal tone? If it goes to the answerphone, is the mailbox full? This is a sign that messages are not being returned. Why would an active business not return and delete messages? • Send a confirmation email - we hear of so many people whose initial suspicions to fraud are raised when they email the invoice and the email bounces back. Check it first - a confirmation email thanking the customer for their application or order can help to pre-warn you of any problems and is also customer service friendly so your customers will see this a great customer service tool! In short: Confirm the details on the application are true, using credit information, the internet or ID checks. Check the condition of the business applying for goods on credit. Is the order consistent with past transactions or as you would expect it to be? Satisfy your gut feeling and if you cannot, assess the risk and if needs be, decline the application. Testing is also important. It will help to ensure new processes and current processes are providing the protection you need. Internally, submitting a fictitious order or application will help you to track if you are getting the desired outcome. What if you are a victimof fraud? Report it - Call 101 or report to Action Fraud. Share it - Sharing your experiences is the quickest way to stop fraudsters in their tracks. Talk to your trade association or industry specific credit information agency who will be able to make others in your industry aware. For further information or support relating to fraud prevention or anything else relating to credit management, please contact Top Service on 01527 518 800 or email helpdesk@top-service.co.uk Protecting Plant and Vehicles Information on how best to protect your vehicles and plant has recently been launched by Secure by Design, an official police security initiative organisation. The information can be found viewed on the CITS website at https://www.cits.uk.com/crime_prevention.php Images of the latest online scams targeting motorists have been revealed by the Driver Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) to help drivers spot and report them quickly. The scams ask drivers to verify their driving licence details, or offer vehicle tax refunds, or state that a failed vehicle tax payment occurred and ask for bank details. Members are advised the only place to access official information on DVLA and its services is from the GOV.UK website. The agency never asks for bank details over email and never sends text messages about vehicle tax refunds. As well as forwarding any suspicious emails and texts to DVLA themselves, DVLA has 5 top tips for motorists to stay safe online: • never share driving licence images and vehicle documents online • never share bank details or personal data online • avoid websites offering to connect to DVLA’s contact centre. • only use GOV.UK when looking for DVLA contact details. • immediately report it to the police through Action Fraud if you think you have been the victim of a scam. Further information and advice on this can be found on the Action Fraud website. DVLA Scam Warning On Friday 11th December 2020, the following items were delivered to Wick FarmEstate, Bradwell on Sea, Maldon, Essex. Unfortunately, they were all stolen by Monday 14th December. A Kubota U27-4 Mini-excavator. Serial number 58550. Manufactured in 2016. A Kubota KX015-4 Mini-excavator. Serial number 60288. Manufactured in 2016. A set of Rubber Tracks - U008-3. Serial number 70457. Manufactured in 2020. A Kubota Track Barrow. Serial number 2MEK1. Manufactured in 2019. A Bomag Wacker Plate. Serial number 101230461361. Manufactured in 2020. An Atlas Copco machine-mount Hydraulic Breaker. Serial 033551. Manufactured in 2014. A Stihl Ts410. Serial number 186344004. Manufactured in 2019. If any of these are seen, please contact the CPA. On Thursday 17th December 2020, we received notification that a fraudster had managed to obtain a ‘hired-in plant’ insurance policy. He claims to be ‘Mark Howard’ from a company called Howard Civil Engineering Ltd in Leeds. The phone number he is using is 07459 135040. The email address he is using is howardcivilengineering@ outlook.com. Please note the email address, which differs from the true company’s email address. Stolen Plant and Fraud Alert