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Should we confront someone we suspect of being fraudulent

Power Lunch Club

Power Lunch Club

New Member
Should we confront someone we suspect of being fraudlent about their business dealings.

After investigations from various reliable sources we have discovered that the information a certain business person has given is less that truthful.

In fact nothing adds up about this company.

We ran a credit check on a company and found that they really don't have a company to speak off...it's like they are making themselves out bigger than they really are.

What should we do?
 

Brian McIntosh

New Member
I suppose it depends on how "fraudulent" they have been Gordon. I'm sure we've all been in the position of bigging ourselves up from time to time. My niece has just started a business and, reading her website, you would think the business was massive when, in reality, it's just her. If the person is trying to defraud you by giving false information I for one would front them up.
 
Very 'cloak and dagger' Gordon and a bit lacking in detail to answer sensibly... And ACTUALLY rather dangerous ground to be treading on an open DB....

Difficult one since you:

a) Might not have the whole picture...

And

b) Depending on the nature and platform of the confrontation you may find yourself facing litigation in terms (for instance) of the defamation act....

You speak of a "Company", and I assume by that you mean a limited Company. These can be set up for many reasons and can appear almost dormant yet in fact be administrative 'vessels' for a much more active business. Quite common in the Film and TV industries for instance for Limited Companies to exist which essentially just 'buffer' the intellectual property side of things...

In another breath you speak of an individual.... And again it's quite possible for individuals as sole traders to play their affairs quite close to their chest; ultimately their affairs are their own....

In both those circumstances there might be very little (if anything) to be revealed from a credit search....

And whilst that alone might (in some circumstances) be enough for you to decide not to deal or associate with them, it's not necessarily evidence of fraud... And indeed I would be VERY careful about levelling charges of criminal activity or intent at anyone without some solid evidence....

You say "fraudulent about their business dealings"? In what way? Are they trying to raise credit against assets or goodwill they do not own? Are they in some way mis-representing themselves in order to gain a financial advantage?

.....For instance, if they've said 'XYZ Ltd' had a turnover exceeding £1,000,000 last year, when in fact it's virtually dormant that only becomes fraudulent when the figure is actually used to ply for advantage...

If on the other hand the Managing Director of 'XYZ Ltd' said 'his business' had a turnover exceeding £1,000,000 last year that may well include XYZ Ltd. And in that regard is arguably somewhat misleading... But not necessarily fraudulent; for all you know 'his business' could include a sideline in hot-shot share dealing conducted entirely though private accounts....

Frankly, this is the sort of thing into which even the FIU of your local Police force would have to put considerable effort and exercise considerable authority in establishing....

Having worked in news and on investigative documentaries I can tell you for sure that you need to be VERY sure of your ground before hurling allegations around...

Give 'em enough rope though and they'll often hang themselves!

Certainly; if this individual is somehow trying to gain credibility by linking themselves to you or your services, or if they are attempting to obtain goods or services on the basis of false claims then yes; you'd be quite right to confront them... Likewise if you've uncovered a trail of unpaid bills or botched contracts etc...

But you need to watch you don't get sucked unwittingly into a cycle of character assassination. And that's very possible if someone's (rightly or wrongly) not liked; IF what you're taking as information is in fact dis-information. Things might not add up for you simply because you don't have the whole formula....

The only thing for sure is that if you're uncomfortable with them you need to just distance yourself....
 
Power Lunch Club

Power Lunch Club

New Member
Thanks Matt, that's a great reply.

Your absolutely right, we are just not sure....but the information we have is not stacking up in all sorts of area's.

But your last line sums up what we had kind of concluded, there has been a sense of the whole situation being uncomfortable and I think the best way forward is to distance ourselves from the company.

G
 
Scottish Business Owner

Scottish Business Owner

New Member
Gordon - I would agree with keeping your distance as you dont want this festering into a bigger issue.

Matt you make some very good points but having experienced something similar in a previous business myself these are issues or mistakes that can actually cost you quite alot. Had I had the foresight to run something like a credit check (which on a company is perfectly legal and is public information) I dont think I would have made that mistake.

Admittedly information can be quite scarce but there is certain information you can use that helps to identify patterns or issues. Certainly enough to arrive at a decision to walk away.

Businesses dont credit check enough in my view and it really should be a must before engaging in any sort of business supply or business partnership etc.
 
Very fair point ; though I'm not suggesting the credit check isn't a good idea, all I'm saying is that sometimes it isn't the whole picture....

Personally I really DON'T get involved in becoming 'exposed' as far as allowing credit's concerned. And with past experience I'd be wary of getting too involved in partnerships etc.... But yes; limited though it may be a credit check does seem like an essential move if you're likely to be at all 'open' to abuse....
 
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