Be Scam Aware - potential loan scams.

Central

Bedfordshire

Scam Aware

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning consumers to be aware of potential loan scams.

We have received information from a consumer who had recently received an unsolicited telephone call from an alleged loan company after entering their details onto a loan comparison website. The company in question was called Ucash and was using the following telephone number 0203 2390616. As a result of the claims made by the caller, the consumer applied for a loan with Ucash and has subsequently been asked to authorise five separate transactions totalling £470 in order to receive the loan amount. Unfortunately, the consumer is still yet to receive the agreed loan amount.

Based on the information provided we believe this has all the hallmarks of a scam and we would advise anyone to act with extreme caution when applying for loans.

Our advice to consumers is that a legitimate loan company would never request an advance payment (i.e. to act as an admin or release fee) prior to you receiving the loan amount. Never be intimidated into making a quick decision just because claims of prompt payment will speed up the transfer of the loan amount for example, and always take a moment to ask yourself why you are paying money upfront before you have even received the loan amount.

If you have any information about suspect rogue traders or would like to report a possible scam please initially contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06, in order so that all relevant regulatory authorities can be notified.

In the meantime, please visit our website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bescamaware for advice and guidance on how to spot a scam and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Kind regards

Trading Standards

(Community Safety and Public Protection)

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Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ

Telephone: 0300 300 8136 Email: trading.standards@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

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