Businesses are being urged to remain vigilant following warnings from Companies House and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) about fraudulent payment requests being sent to UK companies.
Scammers are targeting businesses with official-looking letters and emails that appear to come from legitimate organisations. These communications often request payment for services related to company administration or intellectual property protection, but the fees charged are frequently excessive and, in some cases, the services offered are unnecessary or available free of charge through official government channels.
Common Types of Misleading Requests
The fraudulent invoices and payment demands may be sent to a company’s registered office address or delivered by email.
Some of the most common requests relate to:
- Setting up or claiming a Companies House online account.
- Authenticating or verifying company details with Companies House.
- Renewing a trade mark.
- Registering a trade mark on an “exclusive” or unofficial online register.
These communications can appear convincing and may use language that creates a sense of urgency, encouraging businesses to make payment without carrying out further checks.
How to Protect Your Business
Companies House and the IPO are advising businesses to take extra care before responding to any unexpected request for payment.
If you receive a letter or email that appears to be from a government organisation, consider the following steps:
Check the sender’s details
Review any website addresses, email addresses and contact information carefully. Genuine government services will typically direct you to official GOV.UK websites.
Look for disclaimers
Some organisations include small-print statements explaining that they are not affiliated with the UK Government. These notices can sometimes be easy to overlook.
Verify requests directly
If you are unsure whether a request is genuine, contact Companies House or the IPO directly using contact details obtained from official government sources rather than those provided in the correspondence itself.
Why Businesses Should Be Cautious
Fraudulent payment requests can lead to unnecessary costs and may expose businesses to further scam activity if personal or company information is disclosed.
With many businesses focused on managing day-to-day operations, it can be easy to assume that an invoice or official-looking letter is legitimate. Taking a few moments to verify a request before making payment can help avoid costly mistakes.
Staying Alert
Fraudsters continue to develop increasingly sophisticated methods of targeting businesses, making vigilance more important than ever. Ensuring that employees responsible for company administration, finance and compliance are aware of these risks can provide an additional layer of protection.
If you have any concerns about correspondence relating to Companies House, trade marks or other regulatory matters, it is always worth seeking professional advice before making a payment or sharing sensitive information.
e: office@londonaccountants.co t: 0203 137 9791
Kind Regards,
The Team at London Accountants
