Since the ruse is fairly sophisticated and adopts an approach employed by perfectly genuine companies in the marketplace, it doesn’t immediately signal alarm bells. Essentially, it goes as follows: the contractor e-mails companies, claiming to have been appointed project manager for a major cruise contract. The e-mail dangles a few details about the likely size of the contract and then invites companies to respond if they’re interested in bidding for any part of the audio or lighting specification. Once they’ve indicated an interest, the contractor then offers to forward the bid package for evaluation, in return for a small, refundable security deposit. What happens next is all too obvious - the money is sent, and the contractor disappears. And because the amount is nominal, most companies don’t pursue it, preferring to write it off to experience.
Fortunately, in this most recent instance, the PLASA Member grapevine kicked in, and thee-mails were circulated to others within the cruise sector, each company adding another piece to the complex jigsaw. The final picture that emerged made it clear to all that no further time should be wasted pursuing the alleged contract. That sequence of correspondence then landed on our desks and working with our Australia-based writer, Andy Ciddor, we carried out further checks. All the telephone numbers (except the fax line) are mobile phones. There are no telephone directory listings for the contractor in either the White (standard directory) or Yellow (business directory) pages. Most unusual for any business. There is no Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian Company Number (ACN) given in the e-mail, although it is Australian company law that any 'offer of trade' is required to be accompanied by such a number. There is no registered business in any state of Australia with the name that we saw on the e-mail. Similarly, the bank account details for the transfer do not contain the account name - also highly unusual.
When we carried out a web search for the contractor, we couldn’t find a single entry for it on any of the main search engines, and when market databases were checked, no record could be found of any cruise ship of the size detailed, being commissioned. Not surprisingly, when one of the companies contacted the contractor raising some of these matters, not another word was heard.
Regrettably, this is not the first time this particular con trick has been tried: four years ago a company lost a £1,500 security deposit in an almost identical scam. For anybody out there currently considering parting with money in return for bid documents, we recommend that you check the contractor out thoroughly - they won’t mind if they’re genuine. Not only should you ask for their business/company number, but you should also ask for a registered office address. If you arrange a meeting, make sure it takes place at their offices - don’t let them suggest an alternative.
