Sorry: It Almost Certainly Wasn't You

Kent County Council Trading Standards have received a number of reports of a scam involving residents in Kent receiving mail claiming that the resident has won £825,000 in the Peoples Post Code lottery.

The mail states that to claim the prize money, the resident should ring a telephone number listed in the mail. When the resident rings the given number, they are asked to pay a release fee which can be anything between £200 and £4,000.

Trading Standards advise:

• This letter has all the hallmarks of a prize draw scam.
• If you haven't entered a lottery, you won't have won one.
• Do not enter in an agreement over the telephone unless you are certain that the offer is genuine.
• Do not pay money over the telephone unless you know the identity of the caller and you are certain it is genuine.
• Remember - As a private consumer you would be protected by a 14 day cooling off period following an agreement.
• If there is any doubt, do not pay any money and do not give your bank account details.

Find out more at www.adviceguide.org.uk.