Ten Point Plan to combat Long Firm Fraud

A Guide for Credit Controllers

These are some checks that you should do before you authorise the opening of an account to help prevent you or your business becoming a victim of this crime.

Always ask for trade references (the more the better) and always take them up in writing and verbally.
Is the referee impartial? Have they been used before? It is helpful to keep a database of trade references used.
Ask for original company headed notepaper, not copies. Can they provide up-to-date accounts? If so, ask for them.
Can they provide banking references, if so, take them up. Check any VAT numbers provided.
Credit check the names of company director’s for bankruptcy orders and CCJ’s.
Confirm any telephone numbers provided, don’t accept mobile phone numbers for companies.
Never accept handwritten orders of faxes.
Don’t allow the delivery of goods to different addresses without checking them.
Know your customer. Are they who they say they are? Ask for personal identification preferably with a photograph.
How was your phone call answered? Did they give a different company name?

Courtesy of DC Mark Woods – Northumbria Police Economic Crime Unit.