Consumers are being warned against scammers who call, email and write fake letters posing as government officials from the Ministry of Justice. The fraudsters often trick members of the public by telling them that they could be owed money – sometimes for the repayment of bank charges, payment protection insurance (PPI) or a court settlement. They ask for an upfront payment from the consumer to process the money. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) warned today that the scammers have no connection to the Government or any genuine organisation. The fraudsters have already tricked and harassed some victims into handing over thousands of pounds, only for them to find out that the call was fake.

The MoJ warned consumers to not pass on personal or financial details so such callers. Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said: 'These are callous fraudsters who target people they believe are vulnerable to scams, often seeking out those who might already be struggling with debt. 'I would urge the public to be on their guard and not to hand over any money until completely confident a company is legitimate, and to contact the authorities immediately if they are concerned. 'The simple rule remains: if a call like this comes out of nowhere and seems too good to be true, there’s a good chance it could be scam.' ....Read more here