Age Concern has teamed up with Flintshire Trading Standards to encourage residents to help with the fight against scams by ‘dropping in to drop them in it’.
The Office of Fair Trading nationwide ‘Scamnesty’ campaign aims to help end the scourge of mass marketed scam mailings in the UK.
Margaret Hanson, Chief Officer for Age Concern North East Wales said: “Anyone can be affected by a scam. The majority of victims are aged between 35 and 44, however, older consumers, those aged 55 plus lose the most money to scams, and are more likely to become ‘chronic scam victims’ and that is why we are keen to support this campaign. We are sadly aware of cases where these scams have brought misery to lives of older people in our community by cheating them out of their life savings. Some people have lost thousands of pounds to these scammers.
“We advise anyone who receives a possible scam offer to: ‘Stop, think, and think again’. Do not be rushed into sending off money straight away to someone you do not know. How likely is it that you have been especially chosen for this offer?
“Thousands of other people are likely to have received the same offer. Think again – read the offer carefully. If you are unsure, speak to family or friends or seek advice.”
‘Scamnesty 2010’ calls on the people of Flintshire to fight back against the fraudsters by collecting any scam mailings they or friends and relatives receive and dropping them into designated ‘Scamnesty’ bins located across Flintshire and at the Age Concern Office in Mold, situated in the Daniel Owen Centre above Peacocks.
The Scamnesty bins will provide valuable new intelligence to help inform future investigations which will prevent others from being scammed.
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
Consumers can report all types of scams at https://secure.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.aspx on the Consumer Direct website.
