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Conned by scam letters
DragonLady
Posts: 26 Forumite
Hi all
Not sure if this is the right place, but I hope someone might be able to offer some advice.
My BIL has his own small business and has received many 10s of what I can clearly see are scam letters asking for money (usually around £200 a pop) for placing an advert in an imaginary booklet that is apparently going to be delivered around local businesses. It is a well worn tactic....unfortunately.
He has never advertised and would never advertise, but he is in a fragile and rather vulnerable state with some mental health issues at present and as he is not thinking straight. As a consequence, he has been paying up to these fraudsters when they send him threatening letters or call him up. For several, I know he has made credit card payments over the phone.
His health has come to a bit of a head in the last few days and he is going to be in care for the next few weeks with the hope that we can get him back to his old self in good time... however, as I work my way through the masses of letters that he does appear to have paid, I wondered if there were any experiences of getting the money back? I am guessing the answer is "no way" but I am not sure the police would be able to assist as he effectively gave the money out 'willingly' (albeit to avoid their hollow threats of court action etc.) I have reported this on a number of fraud sites and on Action Fraud, but nothing seems to happen.
In thanks, with fingers crossed (ever the optimist!)
Not sure if this is the right place, but I hope someone might be able to offer some advice.
My BIL has his own small business and has received many 10s of what I can clearly see are scam letters asking for money (usually around £200 a pop) for placing an advert in an imaginary booklet that is apparently going to be delivered around local businesses. It is a well worn tactic....unfortunately.
He has never advertised and would never advertise, but he is in a fragile and rather vulnerable state with some mental health issues at present and as he is not thinking straight. As a consequence, he has been paying up to these fraudsters when they send him threatening letters or call him up. For several, I know he has made credit card payments over the phone.
His health has come to a bit of a head in the last few days and he is going to be in care for the next few weeks with the hope that we can get him back to his old self in good time... however, as I work my way through the masses of letters that he does appear to have paid, I wondered if there were any experiences of getting the money back? I am guessing the answer is "no way" but I am not sure the police would be able to assist as he effectively gave the money out 'willingly' (albeit to avoid their hollow threats of court action etc.) I have reported this on a number of fraud sites and on Action Fraud, but nothing seems to happen.
In thanks, with fingers crossed (ever the optimist!)
0
Comments
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If you have copies of the threatening letters then the police could assist, without them I doubt there's any way forward0
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Some of these are outright frauds, some are just borderline legal. Either way, it'll be tough to get cash back (although the borderline legal ones may be easier if you can demonstrate they didn't deliver what was paid for)0
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Thanks both. I suspect you are right in that I haven't got a chance. It is soul destroying - he is very vulnerable and so far I've tracked down almost £3.5k spent on this cons.
0 -
Perhaps he may be able to claim through his credit card company as he did not receive the service he paid for. Best of luck.
Penny0 -
report to trding standards - unlikely to get money back as they often put adverts in token magazines.0
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