Watch out for this new trick conmen are using

The fraudsters tell their victims they are enforcing court judgements and use a variety of magazine names and publishers.

They commonly use the names of certified bailiffs such as Scott Davis, Stephen King, and Mark Taylor, who are all legitimately employed by debt collectors, an Action Fraud alert said.

“The fraudsters request that the debt be repaid by bank transfer,” it added. “If the victim refuses, they threaten to visit the victim’s home or place of work to recover the debt that is owed.

“Once the money has been transferred, victims are not provided with receipt details of the payment or contact details. Later when victims make enquiries, they’ll discover that the debt did not exist, and often that no advertisement was placed.”

Residents in Blackpool were told to listen to their instincts, question cold callers, and not to be ‘rushed or pressured into making a decision’, the alert added.