In the meantime, criminal charges for fraud by alleged debt collection companies are almost part of the police's everyday business and only the so-called "bright field" is shown. The number of people who simply ignore the corresponding letters without reporting them will be much higher.

The perpetrators' scam works as follows

Those affected receive a letter asking them to pay off an alleged financial debt and to make a transfer. Otherwise, seizure and coercive measures will be threatened in writing. In most cases, these demands are completely irrelevant or excessive. On Thursday (May 11th), an 84-year-old woman from Meerbusch reported such a letter.

Screeenshot: Fraudulent debt collection letter
Screenshot: Fraudulent debt collection letter
Screeenshot: Fraudulent debt collection letter: transfer slip
Screeenshot: Fraudulent debt collection letter: transfer slip

For this reason, the police inform about the fraudsters' scam and publish an example of one of these fraudulent letters.

If you are not aware that you have used a paid (service) service, let alone have not paid outstanding invoices, you should be skeptical and under no circumstances transfer money for fear of reprisals. The fraudulent letters are often revealed by clear spelling errors that are absolutely untypical in business correspondence. Do not respond to obviously untenable demands and report them. The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center also offers further helpful tips on the Internet at: https://www.verbraucherzentrale.nrw/inkasso

Source: police release

Also read: Recognizing dubious debt collection claims


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