Cardiff Trading Standards in partnership with the Office of Fair Trading are raising awareness of ‘Scams Awareness Month 2011’ by encouraging people to drop their scam mail into local collection bins.
The Nationwide Scamnesty campaign runs from 1st -28th February 2011 and will involve nearly 50 local authority Trading Standards Services.
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.
As a result Cardiff Trading Standards are asking people to help to beat the scammers by dropping any scam letters or emails into the designated secure ‘Scamnesty Bins’ at all the Cardiff Council Libraries and Housing Offices.
The information collected will help Trading Standards and enforcement partners to identify and develop strategies to combat the worst scammers.
There is a scam out there for everyone and they keep growing. However the top four reported scams to Consumer Direct are:
1) Advance fee and money transfer
2) Prize draws and sweepstakes
3) Ticketing
4) Foreign lotteries
Councillor Judith Woodman, Cardiff Council Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice said: “Scamnesty aims to raise awareness of mass marketed scam mailings throughout the UK. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and aim to con us all. I urge local residents to fight back by depositing any scams they may have received into the Scamnesty bins.”
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct Wales for clear practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or 08454 04 05 05 (welsh) or Visit – www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scams
Consumers can report all types of scams at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam
