Plastribution urges vigilance after potential fraud incident

UK plastics raw materials distributor, Plastribution, was recently alerted to a potential identity fraud after being contacted by a concerned customer.

A person using the name ‘Hugh’, pretending to be a Plastribution employee, reportedly contacted the customer via telephone, telling them that Plastribution had changed bank accounts and given them false details of where to send their electronic payments.

The customer said the call was followed up by a fax designed to look as if it came from Plastribution.

Plastribution says as soon as it was made aware of the potential fraud, arrangements were made to freeze the phantom bank account and all customers with an outstanding balance were contacted.

Expressing his gratitude to the vigilant customer, Plastribution’s Managing Director, Mike Boswell, also paid tribute to the prompt actions of his team.

“Fortunately it appears that the situation has been dealt with without loss and the matter has been reported to the Police and is the subject of further investigation, but I would ask any customer who receives requests to change their bank details to contact one of our team immediately,” he commented.

“I would also advise that all businesses treat requests for changes in payment with extreme caution and make extensive enquiries to ensure that any such request is genuine.”