Entrepreneur's scam invoice warning
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A Kent entrepreneur has called on the government to clamp down
on fake invoices that could be costing firms millions of
pounds.
Kiron Haque, owner of the Spice Fusion chain of restaurants in
Medway, Maidstone and Sittingbourne, applied for a trade mark from
the government's Intellectual Property Office.
Soon after publication in a trade magazine, he received what
looked like an official invoice from the European Institute for
Economy and Commerce (EIEC), which claimed to be a patent
registry.
"We knew we had not made any other applications and it was only
when we looked more closely that we had doubts about its
authenticity," he said.
Mr Haque, who has alerted local MPs, said it was clear the
authorities were aware of the organisation.
"What I cannot understand is that the EIEC has a bank account
and an address in Brussels so why hasn't anyone put a stop to their
activities?"
A Medway Council spokesman said: "Medway Council's Trading
Standards team would always urge businesses to be cautious whenever
they are approached by unknown businesses or official looking
agencies demanding they pay unexpected invoices."
Thursday, February 09 2012
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