Telephone scammers claiming to be from the government, the Office of Fair Trading, a high street bank or a legitimate claims management company have been targeting consumers.
The fraudsters suggest the individual is eligible to receive payments, e.g. the repayment of bank charges or other debts.
The victims are then asked to provide personal information such as their bank account details, and are asked to make an upfront payment first, often by money transfer.
Bogus callers
These callers have no connection with Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) or any other government organisation. They have tricked and harassed victims into handing over hundreds of pounds, only to find that the call was a scam and they’re now even further in debt.
No government body would ever call asking for personal bank details, offer money back on bank charges, credit card charges or mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance or to send money via Western Union.
Anyone who has given out their personal information to a caller they now think was a fraudster should contact their bank immediately.
Read more about the telephone scam on Directgov’s website.
Please note: Action Fraud is not responsible for the content on external websites.
To report a fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool.
See also:
British Council cash prize scam
Advance fee fraud
Scamnesty 2011: Spot scams and report fraud
