Be careful to hide your personal information as identity fraud is on the increase. It is hardly surprising that sales of paper shredder machines have been increasing as both on line and off line fraud increases.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned members about the threat of company identity fraud after reports of bogus calls from people pretending to be Companies House officials. Other scams include people pretending to be from banks, who e-mail or telephone and then ask for personal information such as passwords. No bank or credit card company would ever do this over the telephone. Fraudsters have targeted small businesses to seek secure authentication codes for Companies House files, which could then be used to set up fake companies and to steal money, goods and services. Companies House, which set up a secure online system for company filing following problems with identity fraud in the past, has posted a notice on its website confirming that they will never contact small businesses by telephone to ask for authentication codes.

David Croucher, FSB Home Affairs Chairman, said: "Company identity fraud, though still mercifully rare, is on the increase and can go undetected for a long time. When it does happen it can be devastating for small firms and in the worst cases, businesses can go bust because of it."

He added: "We urge all small business owners to look after company details carefully and not to respond to unsolicited calls from people saying they are from Companies House and asking for private information. Small business owners receiving such calls should try to obtain a return contact number and contact Companies House immediately.”

We can help advise you as to how to keep your dealings with Companies House confidential and on your business in general. We can also draft confidentiality agreements with other suppliers and customers with whom you deal.

Call us on 01491 572138.