Fraudsters are targeting individuals who have recently expressed an interest in an online loan. Unsolicited calls are made by fraudsters who appear to be calling from a genuine company. They state that the recently applied for loan has been agreed, but an “advance fee” is required before the money can be transferred.
Once these “fees” have been paid, either directly to the fraudsters’ bank accounts or through a money service bureau, they are unrecoverable.
In many cases, fraudsters have asked for multiple upfront “fees” to address issues arising with the loan.
Protect yourself:
- Authentic credit companies do not charge fees in advance.
- Be wary of anyone calling who says they represent a credit company.
- Report any instances of a credit company attempting to request fees in advance of a loan to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040.
