Published on:
09
February 2009
Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council Joint Trading Standards Service along with the Office of Fair Trading and other local authority Trading Standards Services has launched a nationwide 'Scamnesty' campaign asking the public to help in the fight against scams which cost the UK an estimated £3.5 billion a year.
As part of Scams Awareness Month Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council Joint Trading Standards Service, the OFT and over 80 other local authority Trading Standards Services, are asking members of the public to collect any potential scam mailings they have recently received and drop them into designated 'Scamnesty' bins or boxes at local libraries and other public areas across the county. The designated bins are being promoted locally by Trading Standards Services with the theme 'Drop in and drop them in it.'
Every year an estimated three million people fall victim to mass marketed scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics and miracle health cures. Many of these scams are sent by post, as well as by email or over the phone, and cause particular harm to the elderly and vulnerable. However research suggests that less than 5% of victims report the scam to the authorities.
Brian Wilson, a Trading Standards Officer with the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council Joint Trading Standards Service, said: "We want the public to help us beat the scammers by taking part in Scamnesty. The mailings collected will be vital in helping us gather intelligence on the latest scams and in stopping the worst offenders from continuing to bring misery to thousands of vulnerable people each year."
In Clackmannanshire residents can drop off scam mail at their local library or community access point. Trading Standards know of people who have lost their life savings after responding to one scam mailing.
If you have elderly or vulnerable friends or family members, Trading Standards suggest that you raise the problem of scam mailings with them.
Residents and workers in Clackmannanshire can drop off their scam mailings at the following premises:
If you wish to contact the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council Joint Trading Standards Service please either telephone 0845 277 7000 or visit the Municipal Buildings, 8-10 Corn Exchange Road, Stirling, FK8 2HU during normal office hours.
Notes to Editors
1. The Scamnesty runs until 15th February 2009 as part of the OFT's annual Scams Awareness Month. Collected mailings will be used by participating local authority Trading Standards Services and the OFT to aid intelligence gathering or inform investigations.
2. Scams Awareness Month is part of an annual international initiative organised by the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network. The OFT has enlisted the support of local authority Trading Standards Services, Consumer Direct, and other consumer and industry bodies
3. The OFT, in partnership with nearly 50 local authorities, previously ran a successful Scamnesty campaign in February 2008. Over 15,000 scam mailings were dropped by members of the public into designated bins across the UK.