Fraudulent construction firm shut down after credit scam
Company would purchase goods and equipment for construction sites on credit that were never paid for.
Nobleread Ltd has been wound up by the High Court (7 September 2022) and the Official Receiver has been appointed Liquidator of the company.
The company operated two businesses, NB Construction and NB Wholesale. Between February and April 2021, it ordered various construction goods on credit under each name following approaches to suppliers.
Representatives for NB Construction would approach building sites or tradesmen in builders’ merchants in person and offer materials and supplies at a reduced price, for cash.
Arrangements with customers occurred via WhatsApp and over the phone, and in most cases goods were shipped directly to site by the trade supplier. The cash payment was then collected in person by the NB Construction representative
Suppliers contacted by NB Wholesale would alternatively ship goods to a Nobleread warehouse in Essex. The owner of the warehouse told investigators that six suppliers in total had delivered to them for Nobleread. From there the goods were collected by a removal company who were paid in cash.
The suppliers, having agreed to a credit facility with NB Wholesale, were then left unpaid, with debts totalling over £60,000.
Goods ordered by the company from suppliers included building materials such as paving, insulation, rooflights and decking to decorating supplies, commercial microwaves, vacuums, combi boilers, reed diffusers and room sprays.
Both Nobleread entities appear to have ceased trading later in 2021, and their websites were taken down.
The company used identity theft to create a fake director and also when making applications for credit.
The High Court agreed that closing down the company was in the public interest, given the lack of cooperation, failure to deliver up adequate accounting records, and objectionable trading practices.
Mark George, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Nobleread has gone about its business in a reprehensible manner and those behind it have gone to great lengths to hide their identities. Suppliers should always do due diligence on companies before agreeing any credit facilities, and check the integrity of any trade references in particular.
We will always seek to have companies wound-up in such cases, in the public interest.
Notes to editors
Nobleread Limited – company number 12554271
All public enquiries concerning the affairs of the company should be made to: The Official Receiver, Public Interest Unit, 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London, E20 1HZ. Telephone: 0300 678 0015 Email: piu.or@insolvency.gov.uk
Company Investigations, part of the Insolvency Service, uses powers under the Companies Act 1985 to conduct confidential fact-finding investigations into the activities of live limited companies in the UK on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Further information about live company investigations is available
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