Doncaster MBC Scamnesty 2009

Council team up with Rovers to:
'Give scams the boot'

Doncaster Council and Doncaster Rovers Football Club have teamed up to kick-off a campaign which helps protect residents from mass marketed mailing scams.

Brian Stock, Rovers' club captain, joined Deputy Mayor Councillor Stuart Exelby and Dave McMurdo, Trading Standards Manager (pictured left) at the Keepmoat Stadium on Thursday 12 February for the launch of the 'Give Scams the Boot' initiative and help publicise the Consumer Direct number - 08454 040506.

The Office for Fair Trading (OFT) estimates that more than three million people in the UK fall victim to mass marketing scams every year, collectively losing Ł3.5 billion. Despite this, fewer than five per cent of victims report their experience. Last year, the OFT and local authority trading standards services carried out the biggest ever public reporting drive for scam mailings. The campaign revealed that the top five mass scams in the country were:

Deceptive sweepstakes
Misleading prize draws
Fake clairvoyants or psychics
Bogus foreign lotteries
Miracle slimming or health cures

Doncaster Council's trading standards department are now placing particular emphasis on reaching people who live alone or who are isolated. By working in partnership with care agencies, social care and home care wardens, vulnerable residents will all receive advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of these types of scams.
February is also Scam Awareness Month, and a number of bright yellow bins will be located at contact points around the borough where scam marketing literature can be deposited.

Deputy Mayor, Stuart Exelby, said: "Fraudsters are always thinking of new ways of robbing people of their money, and it's often the more vulnerable members of society who become their prey. By launching this initiative, we aim to reach those people and give them advice on how to avoid becoming a victim.
"Our advice is simple - if you receive an offer which looks too good to be true, it probably is. Take time to think, and don't rush into sending off money to someone you don't know. And if you are unsure, speak to family or friends and seek advice by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 040506."

Click Here for more information about 'Scams'. If you or anyone you know has been the victim of a scam let Trading Standards know by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.
A free booklet on recognising scams is also available which can be collected in person from:
The Council House
College Road
Doncaster
DN1 1RN
or by ringing:
Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06
Look out for our 'Yellow' Scamnesty Bins at the following locations to drop in any suspicious mailing or emails:

Council House Reception, College Road, Doncaster
Mexborough Day Centre, Harlington Road, Mexborough
Vermuyden Centre, Field Side, Thorne
DMBC Social Services, Cooke Street, Bentley
Askern Library, Askern

Copyright © Doncaster MBC 2008 Doncaster MBC, Trading Standards & Licensing, PO Box 257, The Council House, College Road, Doncaster, S Yorks, DN1 1RN
Telephone Consumer Direct: 08454 04 05 06 or go on line at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk