Manchester firm shut down over scam in Germany

A firm registered in Manchester has been shut down over a fake prepaid cash card scam.

The Insolvency Service said Advantia Card Limited, registered at an address on Moston Lane in north Manchester, was subject to a winding-up order at the High Court in London following more than 190 complaints from members of the public in Germany.

They said the company sent prepaid credit card-style cards to people in Germany against their wishes – including a 12-year-old boy. Investigations in the UK and Germany discovered false accounts accounts were also filed.

In a statement, the Insolvency Service said: "Some customers were subject to cold calls and received a prepaid card without their agreement, while others agreed to receive one after being told there would be no costs involved. Advantia Card Ltd then employed a debt collection agency to make high-pressure calls to customers – in some cases demanding a 400 Euro payment for the provision of the prepaid card."

The company was shut down on January 28 after the court hearing.

Insolvency Service Chief Investigator Mark George said: "This was clearly a company with no intention of operating legitimately and with the sole intention of defrauding and distressing its customers. Shutting down Advantia Card Ltd is a significant step in protecting the public – both here and in Germany – from suffering as a result of their fake prepaid cards."

The Insolvency Service said it collaborated with the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (FGCO), the equivalent of trading standards in the UK – to investigate.

One complaint involved a 12 year-old boy said to have clicked a link for a prepaid card offer through an Instagram advert. No proof of age was taken and he did not sign any contract,