News Release

Scams - tell us what you know!

See also:

Scams page

The Trading Standards Service is asking people to drop scam mailings in collection boxes across the county as part of a national campaign to tackle scams.

An estimated 3.2 million adults in the UK collectively lose around £3.5billion to mass marketed scams each year*. This equates to around £70 per year for each adult living in the UK. About half the adult population is likely to have been targeted by a scam.

Many of these scams are sent through the post, as well as by email or over the phone, and they target older and vulnerable people. Research suggests that less than 5% of victims report the scam to the authorities.

Trading Standards is supporting the Office of Fair Trading’s ‘Scamnesty 2010’ campaign, which runs from February 1st to 26th. ‘Scamnesty’ bins will be located around the county, and people are asked to drop off any prize draw letters or other items they receive through the post which they think are scams. These will then be collected and reviewed by Trading Standards.

Last year, the ‘Scamnesty’ campaign revealed that the top five mass-marketed scam mailings in the UK at that time were:

1. deceptive sweepstakes

2. misleading prize draws

3. fake clairvoyants/psychics

4. bogus foreign lotteries, and

5. ’miracle’ health cures.

The Office of Fair Trading’s advice to anyone who receives a possible scam offer is: 'Stop, think, and think again'. Do not be rushed into sending off money straight away to someone you do not know. Millions 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.

Eddie Coventry, Head of Trading Standards, said: “We had a good response when we offered this opportunity to people last year and it provided very useful information on the type and scale of scam mailings in the county. We will use the information to assist with investigations and to help us inform the public about scams.”

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, Gloucestershire County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “I would ask the public to support this important campaign by dropping off their scam mailings. Our Trading Standards team is already very effective at identifying and acting on scams within the county and this campaign can help to provide crucial evidence, so please get involved.”

For more information please contact:

Julie Houston, Group Manager, 01452 426231

Martin Bruton, Consumer Advice Manager, 01452 426215 (after 3rd February)

Notes for editors:

‘Scamnesty’ bins will be located at:

• Gloucestershire County Council Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2TJ

• Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards, Hillfield House, Denmark Road, Gloucester, GL1 3LD

• Gloucester City Council, Herbert Warehouse, The Docks, Gloucester, GL1

• Barton Enterprise Centre, 99 Barton St, Gloucester, GL1 4HR

• Tesco, St Oswalds Retail Park, GL1 2SR

• Tesco, Bristol Road, Quedgley, Gloucester, GL2 4PF

• Tesco Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AA

• Cheltenham Borough Council, Municipal Offices, Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 9SA

• Tewkesbury District Council offices reception, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5TT

• Forest Of Dean District Council Offices, High Street, Coleford, GL16 8HG

• Tesco, High Street, Lydney,GL15 5DN

• Cirencester Council offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX

• Tesco Cirencester Extra, Kings Meadow, Cirencester, GL7 1NP

• Moreton in Marsh Area Centre, High Street, Moreton in Marsh, GL56 0AZ

• Tesco, Stratford Road, Stroud, GL5 4AG

And also at the following libraries:

• Hucclecote Library, Hucclecote Road

• Longlevens Library, Church Road

• Tewkesbury Library, Sun Street

• Tetbury Library, Close Gardens

• Bishops Cleeve Library, Tobyfield Road

• Winchcombe Library, Back Lane

• Lydney Library, Hill Street

• Newent Library, High Street

• Cinderford Library, Bell Vue Road

• Stroud Library, Lansdown

*based on OFT research carried out in 2006.