Scam Letters – ‘Retro’

The head teacher at my younger son’s primary school, when I saw him the other day, was wearing mirror lens sun glasses – “retro”.

My other son wearing cropped jeans – ” retro” (although in all fairness, I think it was less cropped jeans, but more than he’s had a recent growth spurt and I’m too tight to buy him a new pair until they completely don’t fit him).

When I was in Tescos the other day, I was presented with a rack full of vinyl LP’s – “retro”.

How long will it be before we all start wearing “Frankie says…..” emblazoned across our chests?

Well, it seems that “retro” has also come into the world of financial scamming.

Back in the late 80’s (yes I am that old), letters were sent to businesses demanding a payment of a fee to enable those businesses to fulfil their duties under the “Business Names Act”.

Well, it’s back.   As the registered office to a large number of our clients, we have received letters addressed to our clients’ companies requesting payment to be made in exchange for publication in the “National Register of Companies and Businesses”.  Failure to do so will, the letter says, result in a “lack of entry in the National Register of Companies and Businesses”.

Interestingly, some of the letters we have received request a fee of £185, some £190 and some £210.  So not only could you get scammed, you may have to pay more for it than your competition.  A little harsh I think.

Please be clear though, THIS IS A SCAM and we need to make sure that none of us get caught out.  I have attached an example of these letters and please feel free to pass this to others that you know in business.

In the meantime, I’m off to listen to my Dire Straits LP on my new record player, once I can find where I have put my mirror lens sunglasses.

Cropped jeans?  What do you think?

Article written by Steve Hale

Example scam letter :    Scam letter example.pdf