Imagine opening your mailbox and finding a reminder for a service contract that you don't remember. This is exactly what many people are experiencing right now. These letters, seemingly from law firms, demand payments for non-existent contracts. But what is really behind it?
The fraudster's scam
The procedure is clever: fraudulent law firms such as “Schmidt und Rechtsanwälte” or “EU-Collect AG” send reminder letters with demands of several hundred euros. These claims are based on alleged lottery service contracts that in reality never existed. The letters often contain fake court documents and shockingly official details to intimidate their victims.
How to recognize the fakes
But how can you recognize such fake letters? An important note is the request for payment to foreign accounts. Official court documents would always use German accounts. In addition, you will only receive legal payment requests if you have taken action yourself, for example by filing a lawsuit.
The legal framework: When are contracts valid?
Important to know: Lottery contracts concluded over the telephone are not valid without written confirmation. This principle protects consumers from precisely such fraudulent practices.
Precautions and countermeasures
So what should you do if you receive a letter like this? First: keep calm. Don't pay and don't be intimidated. Find out more from consumer advice centers or use their debt collection check to check the legitimacy of the claim.
Conclusion: Stay alert and act
These fraudulent reminder letters are more than just annoying mail. They are a serious problem that requires attention and vigilance. If you receive such letters, do not ignore them, but act proactively. Use available resources to protect yourself and don't be afraid to seek help.
Source: consumer advice center
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )