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THE MOTABILITY SCHEME IS URGING CUSTOMERS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PHONE CALLS ASKING FOR PAYMENTS OR BANK DETAILS 12:11, 29 May 2025 The Motability Scheme has issued a warning to watch out
for phone calls about payments claiming to be from them. The organisation, which provides cars, scooters or powered wheelchairs to disabled people in the UK, has told hundreds of thousands
of users they could be targets of scammers aiming to defraud them. The charity behind the Motability Scheme says it currently supports 815,000 customers nationwide. In Scotland, the
initiative is known as the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme, offering those with disabilities an easier way to maintain mobility outside their homes. However, the charity is warning
both new and longstanding members to guard against con artists. These tricksters may try to dupe scheme participants by requesting banking details or payments for their leased items via
phone calls, emails, or text messages. As reported by the Daily Record, the Motability Scheme advised: "We will never ask for your bank details for refunds or payments over the phone.
If you're in doubt, hang up and contact us directly on 0300 456 4566." Beneficiaries of disability allowances should remember that any monthly fees for the Motability Scheme
concerning leased vehicles or apparatus are automatically taken from the benefits provided by either the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland. Therefore, direct
contributions to the charity are not required. To help their customers remain vigilant against fraud, the charity has sent out reminders aimed at safeguarding them from imposters falsely
claiming to be associated with the Motability Scheme. READ MORE: Some Nationwide customers to get £200 bonusesREAD MORE: Rule change for millions of UK drivers from June 10 Motability said:
"If you're expecting a payment from us we will not call you to confirm your bank or payment details over the phone. If someone calls you asking for this information, do not give it
to them." The organisation added: "If we send you a payment by mistake, we might contact you to let you know the cheque has been stopped and to destroy it." When it comes to
dealers demanding payments, Motability advised their clients: "Your dealer might call you to ask for payment towards your Advance Payment or extras you added." The charity said:
"If you're not sure about the call, hang up and call your dealer directly to check before you share any details." EMAIL SCAMS Regarding email scams, commonly referred to as
phishing, they cautioned: "These are designed to steal your identity by 'phishing' for information. They usually look like they're from a real company and ask you to
click on a link. Watch out for spelling mistakes, bad grammar and different fonts to spot these." TEXT SCAMS In light of the upsurge in text message fraud, known as smishing, Motability
said: "These scams usually ask you to give personal information such as a password or account number. Some will claim to have noticed unusual activity in your bank account and others
can be fake delivery tracking links. These usually come from unknown numbers." PHONE CALL SCAMS Beware of telephone con artists who may impersonate officials from legitimate
organisations. They might try to convince you that your account has been compromised and ask for sensitive data, such as passwords or bank details – remember, it's vital to keep this
information private and never share it during a call. Article continues below Motability further advised: "Knowing about scams and what they look like is a good first step to keep safe
from them. These ten tips will help you feel more prepared in spotting and avoiding scams." For detailed advice on identifying scams, you can visit the Motability Scheme's official
website here.