Horse massage firm warned after fake diplomas carried government logo

A company selling fake diplomas for people to give massages to horses was one of six firms caught by the Welsh government for using their dragon logo without permission.

Those who received the fraudulent certificates from the "equine massage service" were instructed to destroy them, and government officials sent cease and desist letters to the firm's owners.

The government in Cardiff found 10 cases of their logo being used without permission since 2020, which the BBC obtained using a Freedom of Information request.

A government spokesperson said it took the integrity of its brand "very seriously" and took "robust action against any improper use".

The Welsh government refused to tell the BBC the names of the six companies that were sent cease and desist letters to stop the misuse, nor would they say whether police were contacted.

But the one teaching people to give therapy to horses was found to be issuing fraudulent diplomas which displayed the logo in 2022.

A cease and desist letter was issued by the Welsh government, the genuine awarding body for equine massage therapy took up the matter with the service, and all learners were instructed to destroy their certificates.

Elsewhere, three companies were found to be selling fake diplomas displaying the logo in 2020, and three fake accounts were set up on Instagram carrying the logo in 2022 - which Instagram removed once contacted.

The same year, an applicant for a job with a catering firm had submitted a fake certificate demonstrating pool supervision skills which displayed the logo - but he was ordered to destroy it by the awarding body after the government was alerted.

In 2023, a company offering energy efficiency services used the logo without permission in Facebook adverts, and in 2024 another company selling fake diplomas was sent a cease and desist letter and the website was taken down.

A government spokesperson said: "It is important that citizens can trust information provided by the government under its branding.

"We continuously monitor this and where necessary take robust action against any improper use by third parties."

The Welsh government expects its logo, created in May 2011, to be used on publications and materials where it is a significant contributor to schemes.

Its guidance says: "Our achievements matter to us, and we are proud to add our logo to all projects we are involved in, for example whether it's improving a community centre, building a new school, a hospital wing, improving roads or the surroundings of train stations."

It also says "our logo is a dragon and bilingual title, separated by a horizontal line.

"These elements are in a fixed relationship to each other, which must not be altered in any way.

"Our logo colour is either black or white. No other colour is permitted."

There were eight cases of the logo being used without permission over the previous five years, including a company offering embroidered images of the ministerial dragon for sale.