Drop in… and drop them in it!
A nationwide ‘scamnesty’ campaign aimed at helping the public fight fraudsters is being supported by Bridgend County Borough Council.
For the whole of February the council is providing a special ‘scamnesty bin’ for residents to dispose of anything which they think is mass marketed scam mail.
They would typically include deceptive sweepstakes, misleading prize draws, fake clairvoyants/psychics, bogus foreign lotteries, and ‘miracle’ health cures.
The council’s Deputy Leader Councillor David Sage said: “I fully support this excellent initiative to raise awareness of scams and scam mailings. I encourage residents to take this opportunity to bring along any scam mailings they have received and drop them into the special ‘scamnesty’ bin which will be located in the reception area of the Civic Offices throughout February.
“These bins will help provide valuable new intelligence to the Office of Fair Trading and the council’s own Trading Standards department and inform future investigations which will prevent others from being scammed.”
Mass marketed scams remain a significant problem throughout the UK. They can take the form of bogus and fraudulent offers sent by post, telephone or email, and nearly half the adult population has been targeted.
Every year, some 3.2 million adults, or one in 15 of the population, fall victim to scams, and the cost to consumers across the UK is a staggering £3.5 billion a year. While anyone can fall victim to a scam, the elderly and vulnerable may be more likely to be targeted. Fewer than five per cent of victims of scams report their experience
Helen Picton, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Head of Trading Standards, said: “Scamnesty 2010 promises to reveal a marked increased in scale and range of mass marketed scam mailings in Bridgend County Borough and the rest of the UK.
“Every day, people are at risk from unscrupulous fraudsters who want to con them out of their cash. By dropping your scam mailing into your local Scamnesty bin, you will help provide crucial intelligence to support us in stopping scams bringing misery to millions of people every year.”
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty.
- Last Updated: 05/02/2010
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