Director sending packages in my name

[VixxFace]

On my desk about a month ago I found a package receipt that had been shipped to the UAE in my name with my work address. It was casually on my desk.

I spoke to one of the directors who said they would find out who had done this before telling me a few days later it was a silent director and he would speak to him.

I vaguely remember the silent director telling me he was waiting for a parcel pick up but didn't pay much attention.

It's been a few weeks now and I still haven't been told what happened and what was in the parcel. If I didn't find it I would never have known and might now have been the first time.

I could be being paranoid but it could have been Anything and now I am worried.

I will speak again to the owner of the company AGAIN tomorrow but not sure how to play it? Any advice?

[VixxFace]

The package was sent to an individual at a garden centre.

[PausingFlatly]

How very disquieting. And as you say, you don't know how often he has done this.

Depending how things develop, bear in mind that under the Data Protection Act you can make a Subject Access Request to the courier company, asking for any information they hold about you.

If someone has been using your name and address to send parcels, I would imagine there would be records.

Of course, you may decide it's a police matter before you get that far.

[PausingFlatly]

Could it be internal fraud, where director is sending personal parcels but putting them through the company and spreading it around to be less blatant?

[VixxFace]

I have no idea which company it was as I foolishly gave the receipt to the owner to look into.

Should I call all known couriers and ask?

I am really quite worried about the internal fraud as the company appears to be in financial difficulties and there is speculation that the owner is signing the business over to the silent director.

[PausingFlatly]

You certainly could make a SAR from all couriers. He could anyway have used a variety of couriers.

You'll have to decide whether that's proportionate, though. If it's just the director taking the piss from the owner - who's selling to him anyway - not worth your effort.

If he's smuggling something nasty, very different.

[PausingFlatly]

Wait and see what director says?

[VixxFace]

The thing that I am worried about is him smuggling something nasty. He should not be sending anything in my name without informing me.

The owner knows and hasn't dealt with it and it's been a month

[PausingFlatly]

Does your company often send stuff via courier companies? So that your name is down as the contact person in the courier's files and docket was issued automatically?

Or do you have some company accounting system where director might have used your name to pay for shipping and it automatically output paperwork with your name on?

Either of these would make it more likely he's just sending his own stuff at the company's expense.

[PausingFlatly]

Actually you don't have to hit the courier companies with the sledgehammer of the DPA, come to think of it.

If you did just ring round and ask for copies of receipts for all packages sent by your company in the last few months, "for your accounts", that shouldn't be too painful.

[VixxFace]

No packages are ever sent out by us and certainly not to the UAE!

Thank you I am going to contact couriers tomorrow .

[PausingFlatly]

OK, that's more of a red flag.

See what results you get from the couriers.

If at the end of that you're still concerned, you could call the HMRC hotline (0800 595 000) and let them work out if it's customs duty or something fraud.

Or if you have any reason to think it's appropriate, the anti-terrorist hotline re (0800 789 321)

But it could still all be just the director ripping off the owner. Not OK he's doing it in your name though.

[PausingFlatly]

Here's gov.uk link: www.amsallegations.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=Lf62UB7cz4C

[VixxFace]

They will know it's me if I call though?

I am panicking at anti terrorism line!

[PausingFlatly]

Don't panic!



For a start, those lines are all anonymous.

But I think you'll be better off giving your name - because your complaint is precisely that another person has been using your name. That's why you're calling! You are actually protecting yourself by very clearly being the person making the report!

[VixxFace]

Lol do you think I should do this before speaking to owner again?

[PausingFlatly]

Honestly, you're much better placed to decide!

Is owner nice and likely to give you an answer? Is there something else making you suspicious?

It's much more likely to be something mildly financially dodgy than Serious Shit.

[VixxFace]

The owner is dodgy, a gambler and up to his eyeballs I'm debt. wouldn't be surprised if he was involved somewhere.

[PausingFlatly]

So the attentions of HMRC could make the company fold?

But it's likely to anyway as in financial trouble?

I think I'd be calling HMRC at this point (once you've got info from couriers, esp name of parcel destination and any pattern of parcels), as your best way of protecting yourself, given they've used your name.

And starting job-hunting...

[VixxFace]

I'm already job hunting! Thanks for all the advice.

[PausingFlatly]

& to get you through the rest of your time there!