Fraudsters gear up for Christmas (part 1): false Yapp Brothers site registered

Jason Yapp and Tom Ashworth of Yapp Brothers

Message from Jason Yapp of Yapp Brothers Ltd (7th December 2012) to fellow members of The Bunch (a group of independent wine merchants): 

'Just a quick note to let you know that someone has registered a domain name* purporting to be Yapp Brothers & has contacted several French wine producers (who we do not currently deal with) trying to order considerable volumes of wine – see attached example.

We have asked the host of the new domain name to close it down and informed the Serious Fraud Office.

I can’t think of much else we can do at present but would appreciate any constructive comments.

To the best of my knowledge no one has been duped by this.'  

••

An example of a false order sent out to a producer by the fraudsters:

YAPP BROTHERS LIMITED

The Old Brewery Water Street, Mere Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6DY United Kingdom

 _Registration no: : 01888369 VAT number : 329 6336 39

E-mail: commercialdepartment@yappbrotherslimited.co.uk

Tel: +441743598016 Fax: +441747440206

ORDER REQUEST

Following our phone conversation, i am sending you this E-mail with our order request. Please find below the references.

Product reference Quantité ( bouteilles ) Vosne Romanée Les Barreaux 360

Corton Grand Cru 360

Vougeot 1er Cru Les Petits Vougeots 360

Nuits Saint Georges 360

Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes 360

Santenay 1er Cru La Comme 369

Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches 360

Pommard 1er Cru Chaponnière 360

Chambolle Musigny 360

Pommard 1er Cru Les Epenots 360

** 

Yapp Brothers has also submitted a report to Action Fraud and sent a cease and desist order to the perpetuators:

'Dear Sir

It has come to our attention that communications sent via a domain registered in your name have been purporting to represent Yapp Brothers Ltd, using our registered address, VAT Number and company registration number.  We further understand that messages have been sent via your domain to wine producers falsely alleging that we want to import wines from them.

Please cease and desist immediately from this serious misrepresentation of Yapp Brothers and infringement of our intellectual property and other legal rights. Please note that we intend to pass on your details to the relevant authorities.

We reserve all of our legal rights and remedies.

Yours faithfully'

**

Details of domain name registered through 1&1 Internet: 

Domain name:
        yappbrotherslimited.co.uk

    Registrant:
        Paul Pitt

    Registrant type:
        UK Individual

    Registrant's address:
        26
        catford
        London
        SE6 4PX
        United Kingdom

    Registrar:
        1 & 1 Internet AG [Tag = SCHLUND]
        URL: http://www.1and1.co.uk or http://registrar.1und1.info

    Relevant dates:
        Registered on: 04-Dec-2012
        Expiry date:  04-Dec-2014
        Last updated:  04-Dec-2012

    Registration status:
        Registered until expiry date.

There is no such address as 26 Catford, although there is a 26 Catford Hill but Paul Pitt is not on the electoral roll there.