Company set up fraudulently

pooch

tallerbird wrote: »

Hi,

I hope someone out there can help.

A friend of mine recently received a letter address to her house but not to her. Living alone, she generally opens all post without checking the name, so she opened it.

It appears that someone she has recently become friends with (and lent a lot of money too) has registered a company at her address. She has also listed her and another friend as company directors without their knowledge or consent.

She has contacted Companies House who have told her that she needs to ask this woman to correct the details that she used when registering her company.
My friend is due to confront her and try and get it sorted out tomorrow.

I am just wondering why she has done this and also what are the risks to my friend? Can she end up being left with debts that she has nothing to do with?

If your friend is a director and lives at the registered address, there's nothing to prevent her taking over the company, including the removal of any directors, change of registered address, and even apply to have the company struck off.

I've no idea why, but it's her money I suppose, so was wondering if she would lend me some money too please? :cool:

earthstorm

pooch wrote: »

and even apply to have the company struck off.

Yes but it will cost her to do this, but if she can prove the company was set up fraudulently using her address and naming her as a director then companies house will do this without any charge.

DCodd

earthstorm wrote: »

No they dont.

I am a director of several companies and have yet to be asked for a signature.

You need the "consent to act" information though.

DCodd

OP.. Has your friend asked her friend what is going on?

Companies House can usually only advise on fraud their 1st advice is to contact the police. Have your friend look at this page.

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/reportingFraud.shtml

CKhalvashi

DCodd wrote: »

OP.. Has your friend asked her friend what is going on?

Companies House can usually only advise on fraud their 1st advice is to contact the police. Have your friend look at this page.

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/reportingFraud.shtml

It needs to be reported using 101 IMO.

I've not put a signature to sit as director of a company, but my accountant has my consent to deal with my affairs on my behalf. If your friend doesn't have this, it may be an issue under the Fraud Act, but also under the Companies Act.

Companies House can only act when police are involved.

CK

pooch

earthstorm wrote: »

Yes but it will cost her to do this, but if she can prove the company was set up fraudulently using her address and naming her as a director then companies house will do this without any charge.

If we are to believe any part of the OP's tale of fantasy, I doubt another tenner on top of the "lot of money" the OP's friend has already given to the friend of a friend who is now being advised to report that friend of a friend for fraud is too much to worry about

Once the friend has exclusive control of the company, perhaps there might be a chance to get the majority of that "lot of money" back that has presumably been invested into it.

earthstorm

I wonder if it is really the OP and not

A friend of mine recently received a letter address to her house but not to her.

As it does seem that on MSE you get a lot of 'i am writing this for a friend' 'I need some advice for a friend' Its like if they say its for a friend they think they will get better advice.

Sticky_Vicky_2

earthstorm wrote: »

I wonder if it is really the OP and not

As it does seem that on MSE you get a lot of 'i am writing this for a friend' 'I need some advice for a friend' Its like if they say its for a friend they think they will get better advice.

Or perhaps they have a friend that needs help?

earthstorm

Sticky_Vicky wrote: »

Or perhaps they have a friend that needs help?

so why cant all their friends or friends of friends come on MSE and ask.

you will find their are a lot of threads that pertain to be for friends or friends of friends.

Sticky_Vicky_2

earthstorm wrote: »

so why cant all their friends or friends of friends come on MSE and ask.

you will find their are a lot of threads that pertain to be for friends or friends of friends.

The vulnerable form a large percentage of the victims of fraud and as such can be overwhelmed by the actions of the fraudster. That may be why.

Anyhoos back on topic. This is classed as indentity fraud and should be reported to:

1) The police
2) Companies House
3) Action Fraud.

There is a chance that this is not the first time the fraudster has done this so there may be a trail of evidence left in their wake.