Devon County Council

From Sian Hester, Exeter 383523, November 18, 2008

DEVON County Council Trading Standards Service is warning residents not to become a victim of mass marketed mail scams this Christmas.

In the UK every year, £3.5 billion is lost to mass marketed mail scams. As part of National Consumer Week (17-21 November) the ScamWise campaign is being promoted to make people aware of the current con tricks doing the rounds. With Christmas just round the corner and many people feeling the effects of the economic downturn, concerns are being raised about the number of people who may fall victim to these types of scams.

With everything from psychics to prize draws, 'phishing' to foreign money laundering, the scammers are becoming more sophisticated.

Examples include:

Prize offer letters: A letter will guarantee a cash prize and asks the receiver to call a premium rate number or send a small sum of money from £5 to £25 to make their claim. However, this often only means entry into a prize draw. The 'prize' may be worth less in value than the fee sent or the cost of the phone call to claim it.

Foreign money laundering: These come in the form of e-mails or letters and ask for bank details so that the writer can 'transfer' money into this country. In return, a sum of money is offered as payment. A high percentage of these mailings claim to be from residents of African or South American Countries. Victims run the risk of losing the money and the best thing to do with such e-mails is to delete them.

Psychic Predictions: A letter from a psychic gives vague predictions for the future and suggests that someone is going to cause the receiver harm. The letter then asks for a sum of money to be sent to the psychic for more information on the person who may want to cause harm.

Advertising Directory Scams: This is when a company is contacted by phone to place an advertisement in a directory, there is often some claim that that this is for the benefit of a good cause such as a children's charity or the emergency services. Even if the offer is declined, an invoice is still sent with threats of legal action if the invoice is not paid and claims of a verbal agreement made over the phone. Trading Standards advise not to pay the invoice and report it immediately.

Phishing: These are convincing e-mails which look like they've come from a bank or another financial institution, asking for confirmation of bank account details either by return e-mail or through an official looking website. Scammers then drain the account of money. E-mails purportedly from "your bank" asking for security details should be reported immediately.

Devon County Council Leader Brian Greenslade said: "There are many seemingly fool proof offers claiming to help you to get rich quick. Read the small print carefully, look past the bold type and colourful suggestions and consider carefully what the wording actually means. Don't send any money and be particularly watchful for elderly or vulnerable friends or relatives who may be targeted by scammers."

Devon County Council Trading Standards Service Special Projects Officer, Dolores Riordan, said: "If you are approached and offered something that seems too good to be true, ask yourself these questions; Was the offer unsolicited? Does it look too good to be true? Do I have to respond 'at once' - what's the rush? Do I have to make a purchase to win a prize? Do I have to ring a premium rate telephone number? Do I have to give my bank or credit card details? Do I have to send the money to a PO Box number? Am I asked to keep it confidential?

"If you can't afford to lose money and can answer 'yes' to any of these questions then the chances are very high that you are being targeted by scammers. On receipt of a letter, e-mail or telephone call you consider to be a scam, our best advice is to throw it in the recycle bin or delete it."

Devon County Council Trading Standards Service has launched its new anonymous tip-off hotline, Trading Standards Confidential. You can now report illegal trading practices, or get advice where you believe you are the victim of a scam, with the peace of mind of remaining anonymous. Call Trading Standards Confidential on 01392 381380 and speak to one of our advisors, or leave a message, in confidence today.

For information on the Scamwise campaign and other advice on a range of consumer and business protection issues, you can visit our website at www.devon.gov.uk/tradingstandards. For more detailed information on money laundering and fraudulent scams visit www.met.police.uk/fraudalert.

To cut down on junk mail, e-mails and phone calls you can register with one of the following organisations:

Mail Preference Service: 0845 7034599

Email Preference Service: www.dmachoice.org

Fax Preference Service: 0845 0700702

Telephone Preference Service: 0845 0700707

Baby Mail Preference Service: 020 7291 3310 (for when baby product mailings are unwanted)

Or go to www.dma.org.uk to access all the preference services

For simple, practical consumer advice concerning this or any other issue you can speak to Consumer Direct on 08454 040506. If you are a Devon business needing advice ring the Devon County Council Trading Standards Service business helpline on 01392 381381.

Notes for Editors:

For more information from Devon County Council Trading Standards Service, contact Dolores Riordan on 01392 382728 or 07973 437598.

Consumer Direct South West is a government funded organisation which is dedicated to giving consumer advice and working in partnership with Trading Standards Services

The Scamwise Initiative is run by the Trading Standards South West Region Group (SWERCOTS), and is operational in Devon. Devon County Council Trading Standards Service can provide "no doorstep traders" door stickers, and talks to consumer groups on how to avoid falling victim to scams.

Trading Standards Confidential has been launched to coincide with National Consumer Week. Trading Standards hopes to reach more members of the residential and business community by offering a confidential reporting service.