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Watch out for this Insolvency Service call scam

The Insolvency Service is warning members of the public not to fall for a telephone scam which prompts people to make unnecessary and unscheduled calls to the Insolvency Service.

The Insolvency Service is warning members of the public not to fall for a telephone scam which prompts people to make unnecessary and unscheduled calls to the Insolvency Service.

Unsuspecting callers will be hit with extremely high call charges as they phone a number that does not connect to the Insolvency Service.

A Government spokesperson said: “The scam appears to be instigated by a website based outside of the UK, helplinecall.com, which provides direct telephone numbers of businesses in the UK but when used, will cost the caller a lot of money.”

The Insolvency Service shared these tips to help prevent you from becoming the victim of a similar telephone scam:

  1. If you’re being asked to call the Insolvency Service but you are not going through a bankruptcy or insolvency matter – be careful as it could be a scam phone call
  2. Take a look at the number you’re being asked to call – if it looks like it’s a premium rate number then it might not be legitimate
  3. If you’re still unsure about the number, check the official Insolvency Service websiteto see if it is one of our numbers
  4. You can also check numbers using a standard search engine as if it is a legitimate number you will be taken to an official website
  5. If you think you’re a victim of a scam – report it to our friends at Action Fraud(0300 123 2040) or to the Insolvency Service directly

Umbrella Accountant’s Licensed Insolvency Practitioner Thomas Fox said: “These scams are effective because it is an official sounding body.

“If you get one of these calls, it is easy to panic – especially if you are going through insolvency action – but it doesn’t take too long to verify that the caller is who they say they are.”

Similar scams have recently been perpetuated by fraudsters pretending to be from HMRC.

The Insolvency Service is an executive agency of the department for business, energy and industrial strategy that administers compulsory company liquidations and personal bankruptcies and tackles financial misconduct.

If you are an individual or a business struggling with debt, speak to a member of our genuine debt advice team today. Call: 0800 611 8888.