Recently, there has been an increase in scam emails, including high-pressure debt advice messages, being sent to people about their debts.
These messages are designed to look as though they come from legitimate, FCA-regulated debt advice firms. But they are actually being sent by lead generators who want to pressure you into sharing personal information, or agreeing to debt solutions that would not be suitable for your situation (e.g. an IVA, which would earn them a large commission).
Scare Tactics Being Used:
The phrases we have seen being used across these debt scam emails recently include scare tactics, which are made up to frighten you into acting quickly, such as:
- “Final Opportunity Before Legal Action”
- “Urgent Response Required”
- “County Court Judgement (CCJ)”
- “Attachment of Earnings Order”
- “Legal Complaints Raised by Creditors”
How to Spot Scam Emails:
- The sender’s email address does NOT match the company name: E.g. Genuine emails from Angel Advance will always come from an email address ending in @angeladvance.co.uk
- The email mentions well-known creditors or debt purchasers: Companies such as Lowell, Lantern, Moorcroft or DCBL are commonly used to make the email seem real.
- The email claims to act on behalf of creditors: Debt advice companies do not pursue legal complaints for creditors, they instead work solely for you.
- The email asks for personal or financial information: This information will often be used to sell you unsuitable debt solutions, rather than provide impartial advice.
An Example of the Type of Scam Emails Currently Circulating:
“Dear [Name],
I hope this message finds you well.
My name is [Name], and I’m contacting you in my capacity as a Senior Financial Advisor at [Debt Advice Firm]. I’m writing to make you aware of a matter that requires your urgent attention.
We have recently been instructed regarding a legal complaint raised on behalf of the following creditors:
- DCBL Ltd
- Lantern Ltd
- Lowell Financial Group Ltd
- Moorcroft Financial Group Ltd
The issue relates to missed or delayed repayments, as a result of which these accounts have now been classified as in default. Consequently, the creditors are preparing to move forward with County Court Judgment (CCJ) proceedings. This could potentially lead to an Attachment of Earnings Order, allowing deductions directly from your income.
Before any legal action is taken, we’d like to help you resolve this matter amicably by setting up an affordable repayment plan based on your current circumstances.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience so that we can review your situation and find the best way forward.”
What To Do If You Receive a Scam Email:
The key is not to panic – receiving one of these scam emails does not mean legal action is being taken against you. Legitimate debt advice companies will never pressure you into making immediate decisions.
If you receive a suspicious email and you’re not sure whether it’s real or not, we would recommend doing the following:
- Don’t respond to it.
- Contact your creditors.
- Use the FCA Firm Checker to find out if the company emailing you is legitimate.
- Forward the email to the UK government’s email scam team – report@phishing.gov.uk
- Report the email to ReportFraud.
If you haven’t had debt advice before and you’re struggling to keep on top of payments to your creditors, or you would like to discuss whether another debt solution (such as an IVA) may be suitable for you, please contact us so we can review your individual circumstances.
