Consumers needing debt advice targeted by fraudsters
Consumers needing debt advice targeted by fraudsters
Friday 20th November 2009
According to the Ministry of Justice, fraudsters are now targeting those in arrears, promising them debt help over the phone in exchange for funds and personal information.
The criminals claim to be from the government, the Office of Fair Trading, high street banks or claims management companies and offer debt solutions in exchange for an upfront payment, most often by money transfer.
However, identity fraud expert Equifax has explained legitimate banks and lenders will never ask for sensitive information such as account numbers over the phone, advising consumers to think twice before sharing their details in such a manner.
Neil Munroe, external affairs director at the company, explained: "Criminals are targeting those already in debt and promising them lump sum payments as a way of tricking them out of valuable account details and upfront payments."
He warned that the fraudsters can be both "convincing and persuasive", calling victims a number of times in order to get them to acquiesce to their demands.
Mr Munroe stated any consumer who provides their personal details over the phone is at risk of fraud, with legitimate organisations always making notifications of repayments in writing rather than by phone or email.
News of the scam comes as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) warns wages have fallen relative to prices over the past 30 years, a situation which could leave many more households struggling to meet their monthly bills and in need of debt advice.
News article brought to you by Debt1 – UK debt management specialists
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