Businesses in Chelmsford targeted by fraudsters
Posted on December 13th 2011
After a spate of bogus cold callers targeting companies in Chelmsford, business insurance policyholders in the town have been warned to stay vigilant. The cold callers are posing as council environmental inspectors, and the Chelmsford Weekly News reports they have approached a number of restaurants trying to gain access.
Allowing these fraudsters to access your business premises and take your property could make it difficult for you to claim against the loss on your business insurance. Police have advised all business owners that are visited by people claiming to be council environmental inspectors to check their details and contact the council to verify their identity.
So far there have been no reports that the fraudsters have been able to get into any of the restaurants, but the local council and police are concerned that more will be targeted. It seems that the bogus inspectors are trying to steal used oil from businesses, with the intention of selling it. The waste oil can be processed and then used in farm machinery and other vehicles.
Any business insurance policyholders that believe they have been approached by the phoney environmental inspectors or have had oil removed from their premises should contact Chelmsford Police immediately.