Website with false address

Mistral001

The website host is probably just playing it safe.  The address given on the website has only the post code.  There is no house number in the address, which means that they do not know for sure where the farm is.  Just one complaint from someone else living on the same side of the same road, is probably not enough for them to establish that the farm does not exist.    

Farway

J_B said:

Mistral001 said:

The bar for fraud is surprisingly high.  For example simply being dishonest is often not enough for fraud to have been committed.  

But, wouldn't you have thought that between go-daddy and action-fraud they might have wanted to close the website down?

Mistral001 said:

The farmer might have a case for claiming damages against the website owner, but even there what damages has he sustained other than spending a few minutes with a caller?  

No 'damages' really, but dealing with the caller, as well as two other digital enquiries.

Dealing with VAT office, HMRC, Bank to explain the situation so that their 'credit file' (*) isn't compromised, etc

* = I know businesses don't have a credit file, but you get my point.

My bold, I suspect if it was advertising ISIS brides action would have been more forthcoming

eamon

Its also a valid VAT number but only registered today and just over an hour ago I assume that VIES website uses a different time zone.

Yes, valid VAT number
Member State	GB
VAT Number	GB 914738020
Date when request received	2020/08/14 17:00:53
Name
Address

Chino

eamon said:

Its also a valid VAT number but only registered today and just over an hour ago I assume that VIES website uses a different time zone.

That's the date and time when the request to validate the VAT number was received, not when the VAT number was registered. In any case, the OP has already stated that the VAT number is genuine and relates to the owners of the farm, not to the fraudsters.

rach_k

I'm not sure there is really anything that can be done unless somebody who has been scammed manages to get the Police to investigate.  

In the farmer's shoes, I would try to get my address and actual business high up in search rankings so that anybody who is checking out the fake business stands a chance of seeing who they really are e.g. get themselves a Google listing and include the fact that they don't sell farm machinery, put a listing on Yell and any other directories and ratings sites, maybe even set up a website of their own - it only needs to be basic with a warning about the scam.  

J_B

Mistral001 said:

The website host is probably just playing it safe.  The address given on the website has only the post code.  There is no house number in the address, which means that they do not know for sure where the farm is.  Just one complaint from someone else living on the same side of the same road, is probably not enough for them to establish that the farm does not exist.    

They are simple county folk - they don't have 'house numbers' 🤣

Only four houses share the same postcode

eamon said:

Its also a valid VAT number but only registered today and just over an hour ago I assume that VIES website uses a different time zone.

Yes, valid VAT number

Although the info is publicly available, I think they would prefer it if you didn't copy it onto here - any chance you could delete some of the details?

rach_k said:

In the farmer's shoes, I would try to get my address and actual business high up in search rankings so that anybody who is checking out the fake business stands a chance of seeing who they really are e.g. get themselves a Google listing and include the fact that they don't sell farm machinery, put a listing on Yell and any other directories and ratings sites, maybe even set up a website of their own - it only needs to be basic with a warning about the scam.  

Don't really understand, sorry - it's a dairy farm, he sells milk to Mr Muller, that's all really, no need for a website

Mistral001

J_B said:

Mistral001 said:

The website host is probably just playing it safe.  The address given on the website has only the post code.  There is no house number in the address, which means that they do not know for sure where the farm is.  Just one complaint from someone else living on the same side of the same road, is probably not enough for them to establish that the farm does not exist.    

They are simple county folk - they don't have 'house numbers' 🤣

Only four houses share the same postcode

That was my point.   Is the website host, which is probably  run by people who never leave the office or maybe from the USA, going to be able to search all the addresses on the road to confirm that the business is not there?  Even Google street view is not going to help much as it does not go up farm lanes.

J_B

Mistral001 said:

 Even Google street view is not going to help much as it does not go up farm lanes.

Normally, they don't but, in this case .............. 😉

rach_k

J_B said:

rach_k said:

In the farmer's shoes, I would try to get my address and actual business high up in search rankings so that anybody who is checking out the fake business stands a chance of seeing who they really are e.g. get themselves a Google listing and include the fact that they don't sell farm machinery, put a listing on Yell and any other directories and ratings sites, maybe even set up a website of their own - it only needs to be basic with a warning about the scam.  

Don't really understand, sorry - it's a dairy farm, he sells milk to Mr Muller, that's all really, no need for a website

He wants to let people know he is not the scammer.  It would be ridiculously simple to set up a page saying just, "Looking for SCAMMER NAME?  Don't fall for it.  They're a scammer using my address and VAT number to con you.  My farm is ADDRESS; I sell milk to Mr Muller.  I do not sell X, Y, Z.  If you've been conned, contact the Police.  

Then when people are checking the other website is genuine, they will hopefully see that and be warned off.  It's not about selling milk!

joeypesci

The bitcoin point shows its a scam. They are hoping the bitcoin can't be traced.