We get loads of scammers contacting us via email – sending us fake renewal notices for domains, invitations to launder diamonds from a rich Nigerian princess called Joshua who owns several palaces – here’s a photograph of her (probably):
Firstly, a disclaimer: I’m not saying that what follows is a scam, it’s probably perfectly legal, but I will say that it’s immoral, and I would definitely class it as sharp practice. Please follow the advice in this post and DON’T send the forms back to The Commercial Register, any business related to it, or fill in your details on their website.
Although this came by post, it is internet related which is why we’ve included it here. We’ve had two pieces of correspondence in the last couple of weeks from the “Commercial Register”. Two (identical) professionally produced letters, addressed to both The Cyber Mill and Phosys, and I’m sure that many other businesses in the area are receiving the same documents as well:
They are in the style of a letter from the UK government department Companies House. The document mentions that our details NEED to be updated by a certain date, and if you read the letter carefully, you find out that you can do this free of charge at com-reg.com (I wouldn’t bother). If you don’t read the letter carefully and just scan it, it mentions that you should fill in the form that is enclosed to update your details:
This form has most of the business details already filled in for you. Just add a signature and date to complete it, pop it in the pre-paid envelope and send it off to France (I don’t know why it’s France, the originating company is in Madrid). If you do this, that is where your troubles will start. You’re not just updating your details – you’ve just requested an advertisement on their (pretty shoddy) directory website for £863+VAT, or the princely sum or £1035.60 if you’re not VAT registered.
After searching around for a bit online, I found out that this is when the demands for money will start arriving. You can read all about a company who got caught out by these people here, and what they were advised to do about it. It looks like if you ignore all the threats they send regarding non-payment of invoices and debt collection agencies, you will be ok. Report them to the Police Action Fraud Website and don’t enter into any correspondence with them.
I did a quick search on their directory site “com-reg.com” and found at least 20 companies in the York and Selby area that have actually paid the fee. You can tell this because they have small graphical adverts next to their names and have extended company details and maps. You can purchase an entire website, or a lot of locally targeted advertising for this price.
If you have received a letter like this, can I suggest that you do what I did:
- Rip up and recycle the letter and form.
- Write an appropriate message – your choice – on a bit of paper.
- Place the message in the pre-paid envelope.
- Put the envelope in the nearest post box.
If you’d like more information on our products and services or how to achieve more from your advertising, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
