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Law Society demands criminal investigation into Wonga

THE Law Society called for a criminal investigation into payday loans predator Wonga yesterday over fake legal letters it sent to its customers.

The society, which represents around 160,000 solicitors across England and Wales, said it had asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate the firm and consider whether any offences, such as blackmail, have been committed.

It has also called on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to hand over copies of its investigation.

The FCA confirmed it had been contacted by the society but declined to comment further.

Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said: “It seems that the intention behind Wonga’s dishonest activity was to make customers believe that their outstanding debt had been passed to a genuine law firm.

“It looks like they also wanted customers to believe that court action undertaken by a genuine law firm would follow if the debt was not repaid.”

On Wednesday, the FCA said Wonga would pay £2.6 million in compensation after chasing struggling customers with letters demanding payment from non-existent law firms to pressurise them into paying up.

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