Scams Awareness Month - February 2008

Kent Trading Standards, Community Wardens and Kent Libraries are working with the Office of Fair Trading on their 'Scamnesty' campaign. Members of the public are being asked to collect any scam mailings they have recently received in their junk mail, and drop them into designated 'Scamnesty' bags. The bags will be at all libraries across the county until 27th February. Kent residents are asked to 'drop in' and 'drop the scammers in it'.

If you cannot get to a library, scam mailings can also be sent to Trading Standards Advice, Freepost SEA13607, PO Box 71, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8WB or handed to your Community Warden. To find your Community Warden, call 01622 696036.

Scam mailings collected from the 'Scamnesty' bags could provide crucial intelligence to Trading Standards Services and the Office of Fair Trading, This information will be used to target future investigations, and prevent others from being scammed. The Office of Fair Trading have been successful in obtaining court injunctions against rogue traders operating by mail, including a bogus racing tipster and prize draw promoters based in the UK and in Europe.

Every year an estimated three million people fall victim to mass marketed scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics, get-rich-quick schemes and miracle health cures. Many of these scams are sent through the post, as well as by email or over the phone, and target the elderly and vulnerable. However, OFT research suggests that less than 5% of victims report the scam to the authorities. It is estimated that these scams cost the UK an estimated £3.5 billion a year.

If you have been the victim of a scam or require further advice, please call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.