We were made aware that fraudsters posing as supermarket buyers are tricking suppliers into delivering vast quantities of food and drink and then stealing it, which reminded us of a similar scam that hit some gift businesses more than a decade ago.
This time the thieves are renting warehouses and sending realistic emails that appear to come from supermarket chains. It’s believed that they are netting goods worth tens of thousands of pounds. Police have warned of a growing spate of thefts through “supplier fraud” and industry figures have estimated a global loss of as much as £5 billion to brands worldwide.
We don’t know if many gift suppliers have suffered from similar scams in recent years, but do be on your guard. Look out for dodgy emails and addresses that don’t tally with those to which you have previously delivered. If in doubt call your retail contact to verify an order.
