PHILIPSBURG–The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) has discovered two cases of fraud with COCI business “excerpts” and it is calling on the business community, government entities and residents to be on the alert.
COCI warned that this is a criminal offence and the perpetrators involved in this fraudulent activity will be prosecuted.
COCI urged everyone to be on alert for the fraud being committed by an individual(s) posing as a business, and to always request an original excerpt document and not accept copies.
“This is a very disturbing situation and we have come across a second case of fraud being committed with the COCI excerpt. Based on our internal investigation, the person(s) make a copy of the excerpt by scanning it and then manipulating the information on the form,” COCI Executive Director Anastacio Baker said in a press statement on Wednesday.
“They replace the information on the excerpt with other information and provide the fraudulent copy to whomever they are attempting to con. This is a crime, and the individual(s) will be prosecuted if caught.”
COCI advises that at all times when doing business, or if it is suspected that the business relation requires a background check, persons visit the Chamber Offices and request the excerpt in question.
Some companies, including government and government-owned companies request all their business relations to provide updated business information.
This business information can be in the form of a Chamber excerpt, or Social and Health Insurances SZV or tax information. With this, the execution or background checking and promoting better business practices overall is made easier.
COCI said irrespective of having the correct documentation, persons should always be aware of persons simply not being trustworthy. “The Chamber is there for all of your questions and should be utilised as such.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/92117-coci-urges-public-to-be-on-alert-after-detecting-2-cases-of-fraud-with-excerpts
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