NH International (Caribbean) Ltd (NH), a prominent local contractor, is taking a proactive stance against an escalating fraud threat targeting merchants during the high-volume Christmas season. The company has developed comprehensive fraud prevention guidelines and is collaborating with the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce and regional chambers to disseminate these materials widely. This initiative follows NH’s identification of a sophisticated impersonation scheme where criminals forged NH documents and counterfeit cheques to defraud businesses. In October 2025 alone, a merchant lost TT$377,000 in one such incident. While NH itself has not suffered financial losses, the company views protecting the broader business community as a corporate responsibility, especially during the peak fraud period from October to December. Emile Elias, NH’s executive chairman, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, ‘This isn’t about legal obligation—NH is the victim of identity theft. But when our name is being weaponized against fellow businesses, silence isn’t an option.’ The fraud scheme has evolved beyond counterfeit cheques, with criminals now depositing fraudulent instruments directly into merchant accounts, creating false confidence that payments have cleared. By the time banks detect the fraud—typically within three to five business days—goods have been collected, and perpetrators have vanished. NH’s security manager, Antonio Ventour, highlighted the critical timing of the initiative, noting that merchants handling peak holiday volumes face compressed decision windows, which fraudsters exploit. The company’s Fraud Alert Reference Sheet provides specific protocols for businesses to protect themselves without slowing legitimate operations. Key measures include contacting NH’s main line to verify transactions directly with the procurement manager and never releasing goods until payments fully clear—even for manager’s cheques, which can be counterfeit despite their authentic appearance. NH is also coordinating with law enforcement and urging businesses to report suspected fraud immediately to the Fraud Squad while preserving all documentation. The company’s Fraud Alert Guidelines are available through NH’s main office and will be distributed via chamber networks as partnerships are confirmed. ‘This affects our entire commercial ecosystem,’ Elias said. ‘We’re choosing transparency and collective protection. The Christmas season should be about legitimate commerce thriving, not merchants getting victimized.’