Information on Loughborough

Drop the "scamsters" in it!

Posted on 25/02/2010

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

5 February 2010

Drop the "scamsters" in it!

This February Leicestershire Trading Standards is joining the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) nationwide ‘Scamnesty’ campaign to help end the scourge of mass marketed scam mailings in the UK.

Nearly half of the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam. Every year, 3.2 million adults – one in 15 people – across the country fall victim to a scam involving deceptive unsolicited mailings, phone calls, or emails, which are designed to con victims out of their cash. UK consumers lose around a staggering £3.5 billion to scams every year.  However, less than 5 per cent of scam victims report their experience.

‘Scamnesty 2010’ ask Leicestershire people to help the fight back against the fraudsters by dropping any scam mailings they receive into designated ‘Scamnesty’ bins that are to be found in the County’s Libraries.

Last year Leicestershire people handed in about 10% of the total collected nationally.  As a result of this scams a number of investigations into alleged scam mailers have been carried out.

Consumers should follow these tips to avoid being conned:

  • Consider why you should have to pay to receive a ‘prize’
  • Be aware that if you do respond your details will be passed around as someone who is likely to pay up for a non existent prize, so you will receive more scam prize letters
  • Remember that though it probably has your name on it thousands of other people are very likely to have received the exactly the same offer.
  • If you read the offer carefully, you may well find that the wording makes it seem that you have won - when this is not the case.
  • If you are unsure, speak to family or friends or seek advice.

David Bull, Head of Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards Service said, ‘Remember that if a prize offer comes totally out of the blue and you have to pay to receive the prize it will be a con and you will lose money. By taking the scams to your local library you can do your bit to beat the scamsters.’

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, telephone Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit

www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty

Consumers can report all types of scam at https://secure.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.aspx on the Consumer Direct website. During Scamnesty month (February 2010), they can also report online scams to the ‘virtual bin’ on the Consumer Direct website.

Ends

Notes for the Editor.

  • Last year Leicestershire people handed in about 10% of the national total.  As a result of the scams supplied by consumers, a number of investigations into alleged scam mailers have been instituted by the OFT. The 2009 campaign revealed that the top five mass-marketed scam mailings were:

    a) Deceptive sweepstakes,

    b) Misleading prize draws,

    c) Fake clairvoyants/psychics,

    d) Bogus foreign lotteries, and

    e) ‘Miracle’ health cures.

  • In January 2010 the OFT  issued High Court proceedings against the companies and individuals behind five UK prize draw promotions in an attempt to prevent mailings and the distribution of scratch-cards which, the OFT considers, are misleading. Further information can be found in the following Press Release:  http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2010/02-10
  • A photograph of scam letters received last year is available.

    • Contacts:

    Paul Davis, Team Leader, 0116 305 5634

    Keith Regan, Unit Head,0116 305 6533