
People are at risk from fraudsters masquerading as enforcement agents (bailiffs) and small businesses are a popular target, according to the civil enforcement industry’s trade body Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA).
The warning comes after CIVEA identified cases of fraudsters using the government’s public register of enforcement agents to demand payments for bogus government debts. The details of certificated enforcement agents are used to put pressure on people to pay quickly saying that costs will go up if they delay. They threaten to visit within hours with a locksmith.
Russell Hamblin-Boone, chief executive of the Civil Enforcement Association, said: “We want to protect people from bogus bailiffs who are using legitimate certificated agents’ details. These fraudsters appear very convincing, but do not be hurried and always check before making any payments.”
CIVEA has provided some guidance on avoiding being a victim of a bogus bailiff: