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11/05/2004
Small businesses targeted by fraudsters
Small businesses are being targeted by fraudsters posing as government enforcement agencies, the Federation of Small Businesses has warned.
Three firms claiming to regulate Health and Safety legislation have sent out a swathe of official looking letters demanding registration payments of up to £249.
Using the titles Health and Safety Enforcement Agency, Health and Safety Registration Enforcement Division and Health and Safety Compliance Agency, they have threatened thousands of unsuspecting businesses with fines, imprisonment and redundancies for non-payment.
However, the government’s Health and Safety Executive has confirmed that it never writes indiscriminately to firms and emphasised that there is no legal need for anyone to buy registration or compliance packs from any of these companies.
FSB health and safety chairman Mary Boughton said: “Ever increasing health and safety requirements and the threat of strong penalties for non-compliance, mean small employers are aware of the need to follow the law and may be easy prey for such scams.
“We advise members to ignore the approaches of these fraudulent companies and refer the matter to the HSE which is carrying out an investigation in conjunction with the trading standards office and the police.”
(MB)
Three firms claiming to regulate Health and Safety legislation have sent out a swathe of official looking letters demanding registration payments of up to £249.
Using the titles Health and Safety Enforcement Agency, Health and Safety Registration Enforcement Division and Health and Safety Compliance Agency, they have threatened thousands of unsuspecting businesses with fines, imprisonment and redundancies for non-payment.
However, the government’s Health and Safety Executive has confirmed that it never writes indiscriminately to firms and emphasised that there is no legal need for anyone to buy registration or compliance packs from any of these companies.
FSB health and safety chairman Mary Boughton said: “Ever increasing health and safety requirements and the threat of strong penalties for non-compliance, mean small employers are aware of the need to follow the law and may be easy prey for such scams.
“We advise members to ignore the approaches of these fraudulent companies and refer the matter to the HSE which is carrying out an investigation in conjunction with the trading standards office and the police.”
(MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
