A nationwide ‘Scamnesty’ campaign by Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading, which aims to end the scourge of mass marked scam mailings in the UK is coming to Caerphilly county borough next month.
The ‘Scamnesty’ aims to increase awareness and understanding of scams, by encouraging people to drop their scam mailings into special Scamnesty collection bins located at various locations throughout the county borough this February.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, “We are fully behind this excellent month-long campaign to raise awareness of scams and scam mailings. I would encourage anyone who is receiving mailings of this nature to come along and dispose of them in one of the ‘scamnesty’ bins located throughout the borough.”
Mass marketed scams are a problem in the UK. They can take the form of bogus and fraudulent offers sent by post, telephone or email. Fake lottery and prize draw wins, bogus psychic predications, get-rich-quick investment cons and ‘miracle’ health cures are just some of the tricks used by scammers.
More than three million adults – one in 15 people – fall victim to scams, losing a total of £3.5 billion every year. Although anyone can fall for a scam, the elderly and vulnerable are often more likely to be targeted.
The Scamnesty bins will provide valuable new intelligence to the Office of Fair Trading and Trading Standards and help inform future investigations that will help prevent others from being scammed.
Secure ‘Scamnesty’ bins will be placed in the following locations throughout February: –
- Caerphilly County Borough Council’s main council buildings: Penallta House, Tredomen House, Pontllanfraith House, Hawtin Park
- Caerphilly, Blackwood, Bargoed, Risca and Rhymney libraries
- Customer First Centres (except Blackwood)
Heather Clayton, OFT Senior Director said, “Scamnesty 2010 promises to reveal a marked increase in scale and range of mass marked scam mailings in the UK. Every day, people are at risk of unscrupulous fraudsters who want to con them out of their cash. By dropping your scam mailings in your local Scamnesty bin, you will help provide crucial intelligence to support us in stopping scams bringing misery to millions of people every year.”
You can also report a scam by contacting Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visiting the Consumer Direct website at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty
For further information, you can also download a copy of the Office of Fair Trading’s free leaflet ‘Scambuster’ or call us on 0800 389 3158, quoting the reference OFT 831PR.
