Industry Alert!

Identify fraud scheme is targeting landscape firms  

UNLA has learned that an identify fraud scheme is targeting landscape firms. A firm receives a fax that says it is from the United States Department of Transportation and that the Department requires certain information in order to qualify the firm as a prospective contractor. A "financial information release form" is provided and the company is told they must fax the form in to qualify for contracts. This letter is not from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

If you have received such a letter you should immediately contact your bank. If you have already suffered a loss due to this scheme, please contact Secret Service Special Agent Donnelly at 210-846-4708 and report the loss to assist the Secret Service in pursuing this case.

The Secret Service recommends extreme caution in all financial disclose areas and recommends the following business practices:
• Keep a close eye on all reported activities in your bank account(s).
• Notify your bank that any additional lines of credit or wire transactions should be viewed with suspicion and must be directly cleared with your company´s official agent.
• Never provide information that would give access to your bank accounts without fully confirming who is receiving that information.

UNLA will keep you informed about this issue as information becomes available. Thanks to national association members who took swift action to share this information.

The Utah Nursery and Landscape Association

belong to the following National Organizations

ANLA-The American Nursery & Landscape Association

PLANET-Professional Landscape Network

TPI-Turf Producer´s International

IA-Irrigation Association

Tree Utah

Other resources

Oregon Nursery Guide  

 Nursery and Landscape Associations of North America 

The UNLA Water Policy Statement

 Principles of Efficient Landscape Water Management

Other Conservation Efforts along the Wasatch Front

 Home Gardening Page

2008 Utah Green Garden Planning Guide is now available at your local Independent Garden Centers

ANLA Lighthouse Program

• informing green industry businesses on emerging federal legislation and national issues;
• equipping owners and managers with the knowledge and tools to have maximum impact with minimum time and effort;
• building a grassroots base that truly captures the power potential of this growing industry.

The future of the nursery and landscape industry depends on a favorable business environment, marked by reasonable policies, laws and regulation. As an industry business operator, you need to know when and how to make your voice heard. The ANLA Lighthouse Program enables all industry firms to directly participate in the legislative process. This participation is essential to preserving the economic future of the industry.

• Enter ANLA Legislative Action Now!
• Look Up Your Elected Officials
• See What Bills are Important to the Industry

More About the Lighthouse Program

The Lighthouse Program is the nursery and landscape industry´s national grassroots program. This new program is a partnership between state and regional nursery/landscape associations and ANLA to increase the industry´s impact on Congress and the federal government by

• informing green industry businesses on emerging federal legislation and national issues;
• equipping owners and managers with the knowledge and tools to have maximum impact with minimum time and effort;
• building a grassroots base that truly captures the power potential of this growing industry.

To find out what is happening federally, in the Lighthouse Program, concerning the Green Industry, click here.