Scams
A scam is a scheme to con someone out of their cash. Many scams take the form of bogus and fraudulent offers sent by post, telephone or e-mail.
According to research by the Office of Fair Trading around three million UK consumers lose a total of £3.5 billion every year to scams that arrive through their door. Fake lottery and prize draw wins, bogus psychic predications, get rich quick investment cons and miracle health cures are just some of the tricks scammers try.
Though anyone can fall for a scam, the elderly and vulnerable are more likely to be targeted.
A chronic scam victim is someone repeatedly taken in by scams. This may be because they are over-trusting, socially isolated or suffer from a mental incapacity such as dementia.
It often starts with the person replying to just one scam mailing. Their details then go on a 'financially targeted' list and they may get many more scam mailings and phone calls - sometimes more than 100 a week - hounding them for money. Victims often end up losing their life savings, health and peace of mind.
More useful information about scam mail can be found at http://www.thinkjessica.com/|||
Staffordshire residents who are concerned about scam mails or who know or care for someone who is being targeted in this way can contact Trading Standards Confidential on 01785 330356 and leave a message. If members of the public prefer to speak to someone direct they can call a member of staff from Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards on 01782 297094.
-
-
-
-