Category: Information

A person identifying himself (probably falsely) as S Rizvi  failed to return equipment to Run TV and has been contacting other facilities houses, attempting to hire the same kit of 5D Cameras and EF lenses.

We would advise anybody who is contacted by Mr Rizvi to contact Frances at Run TV on 0207 636 0006

Important note:  It is entirely possible that ‘S Rizvi’ is a pseudonym, or that the real Mr Rizvi has been the victim of identity theft.  Nothing  on this site should in any way be taken as indicative of the guilt or innocence, (or the involvement in fraudulent activity), of anyone whose details are published here.  There are other individuals with that name, but this has NOTHING WHATEVER TO DO WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN THE PERSON PICTURED HERE.

Azule Finance have created a new register for stolen kit.  You can check their database and list items here:  http://www.azule.co.uk/report-stolen-kit/

Please list stolen kit with Xhire as well, as the more places it’s listed, the more likely it is to be picked up by Google.

It is now possible for fraudsters to spoof the number they are calling from, so the number that appears on your mobile or Caller Line ID should not be taken as an indication that the call is genuine.

This has mostly been used to steal money from bank accounts, but it probably won’t be long before broadcast hire fraudsters start using this trick as well.

More info here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29805002

Good news at last:

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/techfacils/police-sting-operation-targets-kit-fraud-gang/5082015.article

Canon FJ HD 35mm Prime Lens (B4 Mount)
Serial Number – 90510039
Provision Barcode – 304812

This lens was taken by a production for testing in May 2014.
The production shoot and testing was based in the Manchester and Liverpool area.
The lens was believed to have been returned to Provision by a production runner with some other equipment at the end of May but this specific lens never arrived.

It is currently unknown if the lens is stolen, missing or lost.

There is currently an insurance claim going through via the production but if you could highlight this missing lens via your website and email list to warn potential buyers to inform us or yourselves if this lens turns up.

Any information:  Contact mark.wallace@itv.com

There is apparently an issue regarding common types of van, which makes them susceptible to theft.

Considering the value of the kit that companies like us carry, this is worth being aware of.

Thieves can access the vehicle’s computer system via a laptop – this is done via the port in the cab of the van which garages use to run the diagnostics.

With the correct software, thieves can programme a new key for the van with relative ease, then just drive the vehicles away.

It would appear that Mercedes and Ford vans are allegedly, particularly vulnerable to this method.

The thieves follow a vehicle to where it parks up, use a signal jammer to block the fob from reaching the vehicle when the driver tries to lock it, then return later on to steal the vehicle.

The key thing is making sure the vehicle is actually locked – when remote locking systems are used, the vehicle responds with a flash of the lights and / or a little chirrup from the horn.

If a signal jammer is in use, the vehicle won’t respond.

We’ve already seen raids on vehicles from thieves on mopeds, so we know they’re roaming round city centres looking for our vehicles.

It is therefore, worth making sure that crews understand that there is a risk of this happening, to ensure they check that vehicles  really are properly locked.

Extreme Rigging have reported this company to us for non return of goods hired, non payment of bills to themselves and others and trading under a multiple of similar IDs and phoenixing the companies to avoid debt liabilities.

04549209 STAY GOLD LIMITED Dissolved
08646565  STAY GOLD LTD.
07234228  STAYGOLD PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Dissolved
07101005 STAY GOLD STUDIOS LTD.

http://staygoldstudios.com/contact
Address in Shoreditch:
5 Calvert Ave. Shoreditch, London – E2 7JP

They have been reported as not having paid any suppliers for several months. Known debts according to Extreme are Rigging 6 k, Stunts  6k, SFX  5 k and an unknown amount of unpaid crew.

Equipment hired from Extreme Rigging which has not been returned is as follows:

500kg of 12.5 kg stage weight various castings main colour black abandoned by stay gold  at Shepperton studios. (Replacement cost nearly 3000 k plus shipping and vat.)
All bar coded with extreme rigging stickers and or blue paint from C and D rigging.

2 x specialist stunt jerk vests from company called Amspec replacement value £ 2567 plus shipping and import duty from the USA again with bar code and label from extreme rigging
Serial ERJVML0011 and ERJVMM0008

Police have been notified as have the Pinewood Studios group.

Please proceed with caution if asked for credit and make sure you know which of their various entities you are supposedly dealing with.

Blue Tuna were contacted on the 21st March by somebody using the name Alex Levi of Solutions4u.

The website seemed unprofessional, the style of language seemed to be similar to somebody using the name of  Maurice Duchamp who had tried to hire from Video Europe the day before and it would appear that they have been trying to place the same hire at several different companies.

If you are approached in a similar way again, if possible please obtain a phone number. (Land line is best).  We can then cross reference the phone number if the fraudster attempts to use different identities. (It’s harder to have large numbers of land line numbers, although not impossible.)

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Legal Disclaimer

We do not know if the person concerned was using his real name, or impersonating someone else called Alex Levi.

This attempt to rent equipment may be perfectly legitimate, but we recommend that, if approached by anyone using that name, you make extensive enquiries and act with extreme caution before releasing any kit.

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Video Europe had a protracted debate on the 2oth March with someone using the name Maurice Duchamp, who looks likely to be a potential fraudster.

Mr Duchamp asked for an enormous variety of lenses, not all of which matched his camera requirements.

When pressed for references Mr Duchamp became aggressive and rude.

There was no identifiable online history for Mr Duchamp and his email address ended with @journalist.com which is a free gmx mail.com account.

Please be wary of this individual.

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Update: 26 March 2014

A freelance cameraman has contacted the site regarding an advert somebody by the name of Maurice Duchamp has placed here:  http://www.filmandtvpro.com/uk/job_view.php?uid=217347&

Be warned: Another freelance cameraman responded to an advert similar to this and had £12000 of kit stolen. Fraudsters rely on the fact that individuals lack the resources to make adequate checks.

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Legal disclaimer

We do not know if the person concerned was using his real name, or impersonating someone else called Maurice Duchamp.

This attempt to rent equipment may be perfectly legitimate, but we recommend that, if approached by anyone using that name, you make extensive enquiries and act with extreme caution before releasing any kit.

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