Page 27 - BOSS Today Issue 13

The project has also started
to pick up interest on an
international scale. Barton said
Operation Genesius had recently
been set up by the Department
of Homeland Security in the
USA, based very much on the
UK model.
So apart from helping to
beat crime, anyone taking part
in Project Genesius can boast of
being part of a successful British
export story too.
Rubber stamp supplier Trodat
has been involved with the
project since its inception, and
Ian Bradbeer, its UK Managing
Director, certainly thinks more
The Department of Homeland Security in the USA suppliers and dealers should get
has now launched a similar project.
involved.
“Project Genesius has proven
carried out, Project Genesius embassy who confirmed to Project Genesius’s work. to be an effective initiative thus
contacted the consulate that the enquiry was, in fact, Aside from the office far,” says Bradbeer, who is also
concerned. When it was genuine. supplies industry, including a director of the RSMG, “but it
made clear that no such Nevertheless, the stories that RSMG members, there were deserves more recognition and
order had been made, the UK Project Genesius has uncovered companies supplying desktop support and needs to be rolled
Border Agency was informed. shows just how sophisticated card printers, and companies out to more companies in our
They arrested the suspect fraud out there can be – and selling secure consumables, product sectors.
and warned him about his therefore just how critically of which his company, which “The scheme enables us at
behaviour. useful a group like Project supplies equipment for card Trodat to pass over dubious
Genesius is. personalisation, is an example. enquiries for rubber stamps
Members are currently on And Project Genesius But both these last two which could be used for the
heightened alert about people chairman Philip Barton said industry sectors had a relatively creation of false documentation,
approaching them to supply office product suppliers should small customer base and so false identities and phantom
goods for possibly making not be wary of coming forward were relatively easy to police, businesses addresses. Most of
counterfeit Olympic tickets. because they fear they will he said. By contrast, the office these may well be above board,
There are stories with be raising suspicions about supplies industry had many but there have been numerous
happier endings. In February genuine orders, as was the case thousands of customers, and incidents that have led to the
this year, for example, with the in the Libyan example. “I know that made it all the more closure of false document
Libyan civil war barely over, a from experience that when important for dealers to be factories and the arrest and
Project Genesius member was these embassies are contacted vigilant. imprisonment of people who
asked by a high street printers they are deeply appreciative of “They should make sure have a complete disregard to
in Paddington to make up a what we are doing in any case,” that whenever they get a new the security of the people within
stamp with details of the Libyan he said. order, their customer service this country.”
consulate. Due to the sensitivity Barton, who is general or sales people are not just
of the request, enquiries were manager of NBS Technologies thinking: ‘Great, here is some Q IT COSTS NOTHING TO
made via the Met’s Diplomatic UK, said that generally speaking new business,’ but also: ‘Is this JOIN PROJECT GENESIUS.
Protection Group. But they there were three industry something that could be used in FOR MORE INFORMATION,
had a contact at the Libyan sectors who were contributing a fraud?’” he said. VISIT www.rsmg.org.uk

July/August 2012 | BOSS TODAY 27

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