SMALL SCAM, BIG MONEY
Not all Scam Callers ask for thousands of pounds. Some begin by asking for small amounts, but eventually accumulate to a significant sum.
Recently, our office received a call from a concerned daughter. Her elderly father had been contacted by a company based in Tenerife telling him that he had recently been awarded money by the courts in Tenerife regarding a timeshare he had relinquished nearly 20 years ago. The company concerned emailed the gentleman a very official document with what most people would assume was a court logo and crest showing. This document stated that he had been awarded approx. £15,000 and this was followed up by a phone call and an email from the company concerned.
In what was a very convincing call, the company informed the gentleman that they were acting on his behalf and for a small fee of €400.00 plus the cost of a Brexit Stamp, they would arrange the transfer of this money to his UK bank account. His daughter, upon hearing this from her father, became rather suspicious and called Sarah Waddington Solicitors us for advice.
Initially, she could not understand why a company would waste its time scamming people for such a small amount. When it was explained to her that this may seem like a small amount in the grand scheme of things, just how much could be made in 1 day if only 20 of the hundreds they make daily were to part with nearly £500 each? Yes, that figure quickly becomes £10,000, and if taken daily this is a substantial amount.
“That figure quickly becomes £10,000”
She then understood how this scam operated and, upon sending us copies of both the letter and email received from the company concerned, we were able to determine that the court letter was indeed a fake, with neither the name off the prosecutor and the judge were registered in Spain and were clearly fraudulent. The lady was most relieved that she was able to, with our help, prevent her father from losing his £500.
Keep yourself safe from cold callers.
Please, if you receive any cold calls, emails or unwanted communications from companies, DO NOT respond. We are only a phone call away and are available to assist with all timeshare and scam company issues.
Please do not hesitate to contact us as we offer an initial free and no obligation assessment of your matter. DO NOT get involved with any unregulated companies. Instead, deal directly with a Law Society Registered Solicitor.
Sarah Waddington Solicitors
Sarah Waddington Solicitors do NOT work with any 3rd parties and are not working in partnership with any other companies. If you are told otherwise, please get as much detail as you can and forward it on to us. We will deal with it appropriately.
If you want any assistance please feel free to get in touch with us on 01924 601 097, or request a call back
Finally, remember any genuine solicitor will be extremely careful to manage a client’s expectations. They will be honest and realistic with what could possibly be achieved in regard to your individual case. If someone claiming to be a lawyer or solicitor has been in contact, be sure to do your research and check if they are regulated by the SRA and if the individual is registered as a solicitor.