Manchester firm which sent out fake prepaid cards to people in Germany then demanded repayments has been shut down following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.
Advantia Card Ltd, which was registered at an address in Moston Lane Manchester, sent prepaid cards to people in Germany against their wishes – including a 12-year-old boy.
The company was subject to a winding-up order following more than 190 complaints from members of the public in Germany.
Investigations in the UK and Germany discovered the company issued fake prepaid cards and filed false accounts.
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 28 January 2025 after a hearing at the High Court in London.
