Villagers have been left feeling angry and anxious after their home addresses were used to register bogus companies.
The firms, which claim to sell software, registered on Companies House using addresses in the Great Yarmouth area on December 9.
One of the people affected is Rosemary Noble, a resident of West Somerton who received a letter on that date stating that Six Coffeeshop Limited - a company she had never heard of - was now incorporated at her address.
The 74-year-old said: "It's left me feeling angry, upset and anxious to know that a stranger is fraudulently using my address for an unknown purpose."
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When Ms Noble contacted Companies House, she was told a form needed to be filled out and she needed to provide proof it was her address.
She was frustrated it was easier to register an address than to remove one, she said.
She has also reported the incident to Action Fraud. Their boss, Pauline Smith, said the case is currently being assessed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) at the City of London Police.
This newspaper has identified at least 15 other addresses in Martham, Rollesby and West Somerton being falsely registered on December 9.
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One of the Rollesby houses belongs to 52-year-old Barry Ramsey who received a letter from Companies House stating his home was now the address for a business named One Gameshop.
He was "disgusted" that Companies House does not ask for proof when a person is setting up a company.
"I can’t see how they can do that without at least checking whether this person lives at the address.
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"And now for me to get him off my address I’ve got to fill in all the forms and wait 38 days. It’s shocking."
Both Ms Noble and Mr Ramsey urged anybody affected to contact Companies House and file the necessary paperwork to have their property removed from the company's registration details.
A Companies House spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear of the difficulties this person is experiencing.
“Companies House carries out checks to ensure filings are complete, but at present, the Registrar of Companies has limited powers to verify or validate the information which is delivered to her.
“The Registrar has administrative powers to move a company’s registered office address when satisfied the address is being used without authority. This process to move the company's address can be engaged upon receipt of an application to Companies House.
“When the relevant measures in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act come into force, the Registrar's powers will be enhanced so that she can take proactive steps to remove fraudulent information from the register.”
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