Scammers are circulating letters and calls claiming you have unpaid debts, pressuring people to hand over cash and personal details quickly.
In recent weeks, there has been a sharp rise nationally in reports of fraudulent debt collection letters claiming to come from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the government agency that manages courts and tribunals in England and Wales and debt collection companies. Alongside these, people are also reporting cold calls that claim to “help with debts.”
If you receive a suspicious debt recovery letter, do not pay immediately. Verify the debt by contacting the supposed creditor directly using official contact details, not those on the letter. Check for poor grammar, urgent threats, and unknown, non-registered agencies. Report scams to Report Fraud and report suspected court letters to HMCTS.
These scams are designed to frighten people into paying money they do not owe, or to hand over sensitive information.
Contact the organisation directly using the official number on its website.
If it claims to be HMCTS, call your local county court to confirm.
Look up suspicious phone numbers on Who Called Me?
Check that any financial firm is registered on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register. If it’s not, avoid it.
Remember: if you’re unsure about a demand, don’t pay it until you’ve verified it.