College finance directors have been targeted in a bailiff scam involving a chilling “long series” of phonecalls with the con artists themselves.

Staff in at least eight colleges, including the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London and City of Southampton College, were subjected to the rip-off attempt this month.

So far, FE Week understands, no college has fallen for the scam.

However, it is thought that the fraudsters are employing the same tactics on each occasion, centring their bogus story on Northampton County Court, to which a non-existent debt running into thousands of pounds is meant to be owed.

A man calling himself Brian Hall contacts the college, claiming he was a bailiff coming to collect £7,000 — £3,995 of which the college owes to fictional company Studio Media and £3,000 owed in court costs over the debt.

When the college says it has no idea about the case, the man offers to help them gain a temporary court order while the issue is resolved, giving a phone number he claims is for Northampton County Court’s bailiff department.

Stewart Cross, vice principal for finance at College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, which was targeted on January 6, said: “He was very plausible. He put a lot of pressure on and it was quite a long series of conversations.”

Michael Johnson, vice principal for finance at City of Southampton College, which was contacted on the same day, said: “He bombarded us with calls suggesting he was getting closer and closer to the college — but he was very pleasant. He tells you he’s giving you a direct number that’s not on the website to help you avoid getting stuck in a queue.”

The person who answers the phone, introducing himself as Simon, says he can grant a temporary order — if the college transfers the original £3,995 debt to a holding account while the case was be re-examined.

The Association of Colleges (AoC) and also Action Fraud — a national fraud helpline operated by the City Of London Police force — have issued warnings.

An AoC spokesperson said: “We are aware that eight college finance directors have received a phone call from the same person about the same debt at Northampton County Court. Colleges have reported the matter to the police which is the right thing to do if there is any suspicion of fraud.”

Pauline Smith, head of Action Fraud, said colleges should phone Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 if they are targeted.

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5 Comments

  1. I am a director of a long established small business based in Leamington Spa and was targeted by exactly the same fraud attempt on 11th February 2015. The events were exactly as described above, with £1,995 plus costs of £2026 being demanded. I was given a bank account at LLoyds Bank in Sale, sort code771923 account number 46456060 account name CCBC to transfer the funds into. They called themselves Alan Johnson, on a mobile 07789 122766 who claimed to be a bailiff and the supposed court official was David Clarke, on 08454675338 again using Northampton County Court as a front.
    I have contacted all the relevant agencies, and also called LLoyds Bank fraud department with the information that they are operating an account that is being used for a fraud.
    The con men are very plausible, but fortunately no funds were transferred, as I became very suspicious of the processes being used.

  2. Lisa Pavitt

    I also have just received a very similar scam at my place of work. The guy called himself John Bland and his number was 07340 913941 and said he was a bailiff for the Northampton County Court. He was very believable and had definitely done his homework on our slightly complicated group company structure. When I pushed for the Warrant No he then said he had to call me back and that was the last I heard of him. He kept saying that we could pay a suspension payment directly to the Bailiffs Department. Luckily I came across this article just after.

    • Billy

      I recived a call as well today . Luckily I didn’t pay any money but it sure gets you thinking about it. His name was also John and phone numbers where 07464892074 there so called court number was 03454635112.

  3. Simon

    Took a similar call today. This time ‘the Bailiff’ was called Richard Baker (mobile: 07464 892 074) and the person supposedly at Northampton County Court Bailiff service was called Luke Moseley (tel: 0345 4635112). The sort code was 16 22 19 and the account number was 10122009.
    You can do an online check on trustonline.org.uk for any county or high court judgements issued against a company.