Personal identity theft has been in the news for some time but are you aware of the possibility of criminals stealing your company’s identity?  A “Form 287” fraud is a way criminals can steal identities of companies, so that the company can be used for fraudulent purposes. 
 
Company details and copies of forms are stored on the Companies House Central Register.  Such information is freely available to the public, on request.  Armed with this information, a fraudster could lodge new forms changing the registered office and replacing the current directors.  This would enable them to open a new bank account, empty the existing bank account and incur large debts.
 
In order to combat this growing problem, Companies House has introduced a new monitoring service whereby you will be notified by email of any documents filed relating to your company.  At a cost of just 50 pence per annum, we would definitely recommend it.  Companies House are also encouraging companies to sign up to a new service in which any future filings must be made electronically with the use of the passwords.  Any paper forms filed would be rejected. 
 
Mercers strongly recommend that all its clients sign up to one of these two services. For further information and other company or business advice please call us on 01491 572138.