Do not fall victim to loan sharks this Christmas?

The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) have launched their annual Christmas campaign –  #AllIWantForChristmas – which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of using loan sharks and promote the support available to victims and their families.

The advice is:

• If you need to borrow money, check the lender is reputable and find out what interest and fees they charge. You can find out whether a money lender is authorised by checking the register on the FCA website at www.fca.org.uk
• Be wary of people you don’t know sending you messages through your social media accounts.
• Never send money or give credit card, online account details or copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know or trust
• Be careful about how much personal information you share on social network sites. Loan sharks have been known to use online platforms to find, threaten and control people in debt.

Anyone with concerns about illegal money lending can contact the Stop Loan Sharks 24/7 Helpline in confidence on 0300 555 2222.

You can also find additional information and support online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk.