There has been a 300% increase in reports of ‘fake bailiffs’ seeking to ‘scare victims into paying fictitious debts’, says the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA).
According to CIVEA, 26 reports were submitted between January and March 2025, a figure which ‘almost equal[s] the amount received during the whole of 2024’.
Sarah Naylor, President of CIVEA, said: ‘We are frequently hearing of rogue individuals who pose as enforcement agents, using tactics based on fear and urgency to cause distress for people at their home, online and over the phone.’
The CIVEA has emphasised that impersonating an enforcement agent is a criminal offence and advised requesting proof of identification if legitimacy concerns arise.
‘We understand how people can feel panicked into paying but we encourage everyone to take a breath and withhold their information until they are confident they are dealing with a genuine agent’, Sarah Naylor added.
