Caerphilly County Borough Council is supporting the launch of a national campaign by the Office of Fair Trading, aimed at raising awareness of lottery scams.
Lottery scams cost the British public an estimated £260 million a year. An estimated 140,000 adults fall victim to these scams every year, and the average loss per victim is £1,900.
As well as increasing understanding about lottery scams, the campaign also aims to provide consumers with practical advice on how to avoid being conned by these scams.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said, “Lottery scams use the promise of big money wins to con unsuspecting, often vulnerable members of the public out of thousands of pounds. As tempting as these promises may seem, the winnings do not existed and are never received.
I would encourage people to be vigilant of these scams, and understand that if the offer seems too good to be true, it more than likely is.
I am full of praise for this scams awareness campaign, which we at Caerphilly County Borough Council offer our full support.”
Typical scams may:
- Offer access to a winning ticket or the prize in a draw or lottery, or membership of a lottery syndicate, in return for an ‘administration’ or ‘registration’ fee.
- Require a purchase of some kind to receive a ‘prize’.
- Require the use of a premium rate telephone number.
- Require you to provide personal or financial information.
- Suggest that there is a very short time in which to respond to claim the prize or winnings.
Heather Clayton, Senior Director of the OFT’s Consumer Market Group said, “The lure of winning a big money prize can often by dangerously irresistible for many UK consumers, as our research reveals. These lottery scammers are highly sophisticated by callous operators, who know exactly how to tap into the human psyche – and then your life savings – through subtle yet highly persuasive strategies. We are committed to using these invaluable insights to help combat the growing scourge of scamming.”
The following checklist highlights the key things people should remember when notified they have won a lottery they haven’t entered:
- Ask yourself, “How could I win a lottery prize if I haven’t bought a ticket?”
- Usually, if you win something you don’t have to pay anything to receive the prize.
- Never reveal credit card or bank account details unless absolutely sure who you’re dealing with. These details may be asked for as ‘identification’.
- Tell your friends and family. Find out what others are saying about the organisation. Search the Internet if possible to see if you can find out what other people’s experiences have been.
For more information, visit the Consumer Direct website or contact Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards on 01495 235 291.
