FAKE IT
I was slapped with £600 ‘parking fine’ by crafty scam that could happen to anyone – these are the signs to look out for
Including why real fines won't use the word "bailiff"
A DRIVER has revealed the signs to watch out for after he was slapped with a £600 'parking fine' by crafty scammers.
The unfortunate motorist thought he could be facing court if he refused to pay up, only to discover it was the firm asking for money that was crooked.
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Paul Szczerbakowicz was left baffled when he received a demand for £617 in unpaid parking fines from a company called High Court Enforcement Bailiffs.
The notice threatened that if he didn't hand over the cash debt officers would be sent to "remove assets" from his home by "forced entry".
In a panic, he contacted the firm asking to know what the charge was for.
But he was told that they could not disclose that information until he had paid.
At this point Paul began to suspect something was amiss with the case and decided to look into it further.
He told ITV's This Morning: "They sent me a letter to my home address which included my car registration saying I owed £617 for a parking ticket and I had seven days to pay or they would come to my address and force entry.
"I was confused because I am good with things like parking tickets, and to get a bailiff letter you have to miss six or seven other letters first and I wasn't aware of any parking ticket, but it did look real.
"When I started looking at the details the company seemed to be a real company."
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Things ramped up when the company allegedly sent an email saying they would be sending enforcement agents within five days, even telling Paul to contact the police in order to keep the peace.
However, through his online research, he came across the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA), which represents real bailiff firms, who reassured him that it was a scam.
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Sun Motors was unable to find any website for High Court Enforcement Bailiffs, nor was there any entry of that name listed on Companies House.
Russell Hamblin-Boone, Chief Executive Officer of CIVEA, added: "Officially we are enforcement agents or certificated enforcement agents and typically you will never see anything in the text of the letter that talks about bailiffs.
"This scam is all based on fear, fear and urgency.
"By the way, for a parking charge notice, we won't be breaking into your home.
"For more serious offences maybe bailiffs will do that, but certainly not for parking tickets or council tax debt. It's all part of the scare tactics."
He advised anyone who suspects they are being targeted by a scam to get in touch and to look out for similar cons.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Some key signs would be the use of the word bailiffs in the letter, a sudden demand for money or threat of action and a high degree of urgency.
Real enforcement agencies will send a series of escalating letters and give you time to take action before taking the next steps.
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