Mid Essex businesses were today warned to be on their guard after one firm lost hundreds of pounds to credit card fraudsters.
Police said businesses in the Braintree area have become the victims of a con which is leaving them considerably out of pocket.
One firm is believed to have been stung to the tune of £500.
Det Con Matt Bradford, of Braintree police, explained the fraudsters ring suppliers of alcohol or electrical goods and place large orders over the phone.
The caller claims he works for a very well-known company such as the BBC or British Airways any company that could justify such a large order.
The caller gives credit card details over the phone, the card is not queried and the transaction goes ahead.
The caller then sends a taxi to pick up the order and the shop keeper never gets to see the caller or the credit card.
It is then revealed that the credit card is stolen or cloned and the shop keeper loses the goods without receiving payment.
Det Con Bradford said: "We want local businesses to be more aware that this is going on in the Braintree area.
"We advise shop keepers to ring the parent company to verify the order."
Published Tuesday, January 28, 2003
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