We have had a report that a number of cold callers are now making contact with individuals in a most amateur and ridiculous way, we shall explain all. The specific scammer concerned goes under the name of Manchester Quality Assurance Centre; well that’s a pretty stupid name to begin with. First things first, a check of Companies House and predictably we found no registration.
Rather than report what was said we reproduce the email we received:
“I had a call early this afternoon from a Mike Carter, 0161 7103421 giving his “company”? as .. Manchester Quality Assurance Centre?? which was where he was calling from, and asking me if I had any dealings with a long list of companies, individuals etc. The longish list included ABC Lawyers, ECC, Fullbrook, Sarah Waddington and many other names. I told him I was aware of ABC Lawyers and a Mark Rowe there, and also ECC.
I then asked how he got my name and email address, he said because I had a timeshare, and that companies were being taken to court for fraud!! I asked where can I find that information etc. No satisfactory reply was given. I asked several other questions, for which no satisfactory answer was forthcoming, particularly about their company. He eventually passed me to his “superior?” officer, who again was not very helpful, although she did say the Court Judgement against these companies, ECC, ABC Lawyers, Sarah Waddington? etc, would be made in May this year. I asked her to email me the judgement, but I don’t expect anything will arrive!!!
It is a very interesting situation!!”
Yes truly an interesting situation! Our best take is that this bunch has purchased illegal data that has nothing more than name and telephone number but the data would indicate that timeshare in one shape or another was involved.
The next step is a fishing exercise, by reeling off a massive list of names the scammers are banking on their victim having dealt with at least one of the names. This is where the scam will speed up. This reminds us of the illusionist, who has his participant pick a card, then spreads the entire 52 card deck and asks if the participants’ card is there. Of course it is.
Fact or fiction?
99% fiction, of all the names reeled off, none has any court cases against them, that said, There is a court case with a date set for May relating to Monster Travel, Monster Rewards and Sell My Timeshare, all companies run by Mark Rowe, details may be read here.
According to our enquirer, he was told that judgements against all those on the fishing list will be in May, apart from the fact that there is only one court case as we stated above and because there are 18 defendants the trials are split. Trial 1 is listed for 8th May 2023 and Trial 2 is listed for 11th September 2023, both trials are expected to last approximately 13 weeks each.
Until both trials take place no one can predict a verdict and even if a guilty verdict is given, there is the right to appeal and once it’s all over there is still no evidence that any monies will be recovered under the proceeds of crime rules.
TCA comment
In the university of life, these scammers should be awarded an honours degree in stupidity. Apart from a cold call, this is the first alarm bell, then to not actually know any real information about your mark beggars’ belief. TCA are aware that there is a prolific amount of stolen data in the hands of scammers some in alarming detail but whatever data these idiots purchased, they paid too much.
We are in no doubt that the name of the company given is only one of a number that these scammers will use so be on your guard. Remember if your data has found its way into the public domain it will have been sold multiple times over, this being the case you can expect numerous calls. Our enquirer was on the ball and nipped this one in the bud, you may not be so lucky because there will be a request for fees and any money paid will be money lost.
Just to finish, our enquirer didn’t mention the entire list but of the names quoted, Sarah Waddington, Fullbrook Associates and European Consumer Claims (ECC), we can state categorically none of these entities have any pending legal action against them.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk