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The Great Mango Fraud could happen again, warns BIFA

[ November 11, 2024   //   ]

The British International Freight Association is warning that criminals could be attempting to mount a rerun of last year’s mango fraud when an importer accumulated large bills with its members before disappearing leaving them out of pocket.
The 2023 fraud, perpetrated by a Preston-based importer with apparent Belgian connections, involved mangoes originating from Dubai and the Indian sub-continent.

BIFA says that a member who was a victim of the previous scam has been recently contacted by a company about importing fresh fruit (including mangoes), this time from Bangladesh. Due diligence revealed a Midlands-based company with very few assets, a ‘no credit’ financial rating and a Belgian director. The level of business would appear to be out of proportion to the company’s ability to finance it, while a check on Google Maps indicates that its address is a Regus office.
Other similarities with the 2023 fraud reported by the member is that the company only wants the forwarder to handle the airfreight, there is no collection, customs clearance or delivery at destination involved.

In both cases, the companies requested quotes to various locations, not just the UK and contact was made without previous connections. There is no record of the company importing or exporting previously on the HMRC Traders website.

The quotes, which were for large volumes of cargo, were accepted without question.

A BIFA contact specialising in industry-related fraud commented: “I have seen three short firm frauds in the last month and one of them involved mangoes from Pakistan/Bangladesh.”BIFA says that this type of crime is very easy to commit and the only failsafe is to insist on seeing the latest edition of the trader’s accounts and urges all members to carry out thorough due diligence and refer to its Good Practice Guides on its website.

Good Practice Toolbox – BIFA – British International Freight Association

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