Beware of Fake Companies House Letters & Payment Requests!

Scammers are constantly evolving how they try and steal your confidential information alongside new and innovative ways to trick you into transferring money. Sometimes, it can be tough to spot a fraudulent letter, however we at Johnston Smillie are here to help ensure you stay alert to their everchanging methods.

Recently we received a letter on behalf of a client from ‘Companies House’ titled “Your Payment Code Number” requesting payment for “Enhanced Web Filing Access”. At first glance, the letter looked legitimate with the Companies House logo, header and footer containing references to a Companies House email address and website. The letter was well formatted with no grammatical errors. The letter is riddled with buzz words and phrases to panic you into paying without a second thought using phrases such as “failure to pay the outstanding amount will result in suspension of web filing” and giving you “7 days from receipt of this letter” to pay.

However, the red flags began to appear; firstly on page 1 requesting payment of £48 for web filing. However, there is no such charge.

Furthermore, on page 2; requesting payment via a URL address containing “shorturl.at”. Clearly not the web address for Companies House.

A further red flag appeared with the addition of a QR Code that could be scanned for making payment – a payment method that Companies House simply does not use.

Companies House is aware of this scam letter and an example of it can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reporting-scams-pretending-to-be-from-companies-house

Here’s What to Do If You Are Targeted:

• Do Not Respond: Never reply to the letter or send any information requested.
• Bin the Letter
• Delete the Email
• Report the Scam by Contacting Companies House Directly: If you’re unsure about communication, reach out to Companies House through their official website, phone number 0303 1234 500 or email address: phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk.
• Contact Johnston Smillie: If you are a Johnston Smillie client please just contact us and we will check it out for you.

Remember: Companies House generally communicates through letters. If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t hesitate to report the scam and protect your business from identity theft and financial loss and remember we are always here to help.  If you are unsure just contact your usual Johnston Smillie contact.

Stay vigilant and keep your business safe!

Image by Jigar-Panchal on Unsplash