Fraud

Companies House begins rolling out new powers to tackle fraud

07-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Companies House has begun rolling out ‘new and enhanced powers’ to improve the quality and reliability of its data and tackle misuse of the companies register.

Heston Blumenthal: “The process for removing fake companies has to be made easier”

14-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Heston Blumenthal has called for greater urgency in tackling fraud on Companies House after an investigation revealed hundreds of fake firms have been set up using restaurant names.

Restaurants owned by Heston Blumenthal and Yotam Ottolenghi among those targeted in cloning scam

09-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Several high-profile restaurants have been targeted as part of an emerging identity theft scam that sees fraudsters register fake business in order to apply for bank accounts and loans.

Patisserie Valerie fraud trial not scheduled until 2026

07-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

The trial of former employees of the collapsed bakery chain Patisserie Valerie will not take place until 2026, a court has heard.

Former Patisserie Valerie CFO charged with fraud

14-Sep-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

The former chief financial officer of Patisserie Valerie has been charged with fraud along with three others in connection with their role in the collapse of the chain in 2018.

Takeaways least trusted of all food businesses

13-Sep-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Takeaways are the least trusted of all food businesses according to a newly published report into the public’s perception of food fraud.

Byron faces customer boycott over immigration row

28-Jul-2016 By Sophie Witts

Customers are threatening to boycott the Byron burger chain after dozens of its workers were arrested in a raid by immigration officials.

Restaurants targeted by scammers

18-Aug-2014 By Melodie Michel

Restaurant owners have been asked to remain vigilant as Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA) has noted an upsurge in phone scams targeting diners.

Beer Tax Fraud Inquiry: MPs tell Government the case for beer tax stamps is 'extremely problematic' and 'premature'

17-Jul-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Tax stamps on every bottle or can of beer would be 'extremely problematic' and the case for it is 'premature' when tax fraud enforcement options remain open to HMRC, according to a panel of MPs who reported to the Government yesterday.

Reviews site Qype removes thousands of misleading posts

24-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The consumer reviews website Qype has removed over two thousand ‘fake’ posts in the last month, just weeks after an Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ban on TripAdvisor from suggesting its reviews were ‘honest, real or trusted’.

UK hotels lag behind other industries on protecting against fraud

16-Jan-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The UK hotel sector needs to do more to protect itself against fraud which could cost the industry over £2bn a year, according to a new report published today by the accountancy firm PKF and the University of Portsmouth.

TripAdvisor: Investigation reveals ease of faking reviews

07-Nov-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Reviews website TripAdvisor is again at the centre of controversy after an investigation has revealed an array of security loopholes that can be exploited at the click of a mouse.