24/08    20 February 2008

BBC's The Real Hustle team have urged consumers to join the fight against scammers as part of the OFT Scams awareness month.

TV hustlers Alexis Conran, Jessica-Jane Clement, and Paul Wilson are asking UK consumers to support the OFT's campaign and collect any potential scam mailings they have recently received and drop them in designated 'Scamnesty' bins or boxes at local libraries and other public areas across the country until 27 February 2008. The scheme, in partnership with local authority Trading Standards Services, is taking place in nearly 60 local authorities to provide intelligence, help inform future investigations, and prevent others from being scammed.

Presenter Alexis Conran was interviewed by Mike Haley, OFT Director of Consumer Protection, in a new video discussing the 'tricks' used by scammers and why people fall for scams.

See the discussion here (Windows Media Video file 32 mb).

The show's stars, who demonstrate ways in which the public can be conned in the series, have also urged more real-life victims to come forward. OFT research shows that whilst three million people a year fall victim to scams including bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws, sweepstakes and fake psychics, less than 5 per cent report it to the authorities. Consumer Direct, the government advice service, has this month launched a new scams reporting function on its website, allowing the public to record details of the type of scam they have encountered.

Alexis Conran, from The Real Hustle, said:

'There has already been a great response to the Scamnesty which will ensure greater information which is our weaponry against the scammers. The more we encourage people to come forward and talk about what's happening then the more can be done to beat the scammers.'

Mike Haley, OFT Director of Consumer Protection, said:

'We think it is important to empower people to join the battle against scammers which is why we are encouraging people to drop their scam mailings in the Scamnesty bins and drop the scammers in it. Scammers are clever and anyone can fall victim but with the public's help we can fight back against them and reduce the harm they cause.'

Interviews with the Real Hustle team are available during the month plus interviews with the OFT Scambusters and case studies of those who have lost money to mass-marketed scams.

NOTES

1. The Scamnesty runs until 27 February 2008. Collected mailings will be used by participating local authority Trading Standards Services and the OFT to aid intelligence gathering or inform investigations.

2. The local authorities taking part include Hampshire, Darlington, Wigan, Yorkshire and the Humber, Salford, Scottish Highlands, Bracknell-Forest, Milton Keynes, Trafford, West Berkshire, Nottinghamshire, Reading, Leicestershire, Portsmouth, Wokingham, Buckinghamshire, Isle of Wight, Nottingham, Norfolk, Suffolk, Southend, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, St Helens, Southampton, Cornwall, Warrington, Blaenau Gwent, Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, Hull, North Lincolnshire, York, Essex, Stockport, Wirral, Lancashire, Scottish Highlands, Brighton, Dorset, South Gloucestershire, Poole, Edinburgh, Coventry, Belfast, Wolverhampton, Enfield, Dundee, Solihull, Telford, Walsall, Slough, Dudley, Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent.

3. 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, the Advertising Standards Authority and other consumer and industry bodies.

4. The OFT's advice to anyone who receives a possible scam offer is: 'Stop, think, and think again'. Do not be rushed into sending off money straight away to someone you do not know. How likely is it that you have been especially chosen for this offer? Millions of other people are likely to have received the same offer. Think again - read the offer carefully. If you are unsure, speak to family or friends or seek advice.

5. If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for clear, practical consumer advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the Consumer Direct website.

6. Mass marketed scams are an OFT priority. In 2005 the OFT launched a Scambusters team and set up the Scams Enforcement Group with partner organisations focusing on law enforcement, consumer education, and cooperation with private sector businesses to disrupt scammers' routes to market.