Action Fraud is urging people to be aware of a new type of fraud targeting people who may have taken out loans.
The fraudsters – often from a company with a similar name to an existing loan company – are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed a repayment deadline and now owe the original debt plus more money.
This is a serious crime targeting areas where a number of people are already in debt. Victims have sent the requested money to the fraudsters and then found they still owe the original company.
A number of victims contacted Action Fraud in just one day and the matter is now with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB).
Action Fraud takes crime reports from victims of fraud and provides them with a crime reference number. This information is then fed to the NFIB – run by the City of London Police - for analysis and possible police action. Action Fraud also provides a wide range of information for the public on how they can protect themselves from fraudsters.
There are some simple rules everyone can all follow to help protect themselves:
- check your original paperwork – contact the company you took the loan from to check repayment dates
- ask questions - if someone is legitimate they won’t pressurise you or be elusive.
- don’t stay silent. If you’ve been targeted by a fraudster and lost money, report it to Action Fraud.
To report a fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool.
See also:
Loan repayment fraud
Loan fraud
Mass marketing fraud
