TruckPol uncovers diesel credit scam worth £100,000
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By Hayley Pink TRUCKPOL HAS uncovered a large-scale diesel scam that has so far seen fraudsters make off with £100,000-worth of fuel.
The freight crime unit explains how conmen are assuming ownership of a legitimate, but dormant haulage company by submitting accounting details to Companies House. This then ensures the company receives a good credit rating.
The offenders then contact fuel suppliers pretending to be staff working at the haulage company wishing to set up an account for the purchase of large amounts of diesel.
Once an agreement has been reached with the fuel suppliers, a bank transfer is arranged by the fraudsters so that everything looks above board.
Diesel is supplied into a large
tank, and then transferred to another location, possibly via a stolen tanker, before the bank transfer or
payment agreement is cancelled. Detective sergeant Sue Coutts, head of TruckPol, says: “Due to the type of company they take over, it doesn’t raise any eyebrows to put an order in for a large amount of diesel.
“The lag on payment terms allows them to get away with it.” Chrys Rampley, Road Haulage Association (RHA) security manager, says: “Diesel fuel fraud is a growing problem in our industry and this latest example is bound to have a knock-on effect on legitimate hauliers.
“The RHA urges those in the haulage community to provide whatever information they can, to bring the criminals to justice.”
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