Scottish businesses warned about purchasing scam
IPAF members are advised to beware of a scheme being investigated by the Police Service of Scotland where bogus companies have been set up for the purposes of committing fraud.
The company details are used to obtain goods on credit, including plant equipment, high-value cars, vans, bulk fuel containers, fuel cards, portakabins and shipping containers. The goods are then stolen.
Ongoing investigations by the Scottish police reveal that plant equipment stolen by the group of criminals was recently recovered in Ireland. The criminals are reportedly based in and around Glasgow and North Lanarkshire Some of the fraudulent companies are registered with Companies House, with fake accounts giving the illusion of creditworthiness, and some are sole traders.
The company names known to have been used to date are as follows:
• Merrylee Furnishers
• Henry’s Cleaning Angels
• Boclair Roofing
• Infiniti Contracts
• Maz Joinery
• PMK Events
• PMK Group
• PMK Environmental
• Castle Lodges
• Castle Lodge Contracts
• ISEW Solutions
• Kingsview Contracts / Kinview Contracts
Another group of businesses carrying out the same activity but apparently not linked to the same group of criminals are:
• AMA Engineering Consultants
• AMA Consultants
• AMA Construction Group Ltd
IPAF members who have any concerns about anti-theft issues can contact IPAF UK market manager Dave Roddy (dave.roddy ipaf.org) or Detective Constable Paul Wilson, Specialist Crime Division, Economic Crime Unit, Police Service of Scotland (paul.wilson5 scotland.pnn.police.uk, Tel: +44 (0)1236 818143).
