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OFT reveals top scams in UK following 'Scamnesty'

Biggest ever public reporting of scams reveals scale of problem

103/08    8 September 2008

The OFT has announced the results of a nationwide 'Scamnesty' campaign which reveals for the first time the scale of mass-marketed scam mailings targeting UK residents.

Every year three million people in the UK lose money to mass marketed scams they receive by mail, email, text or over the phone which are designed to con victims out of their cash. The 'Scamnesty' campaign, held earlier in the year, called on the public to fight back against the scammers by collecting any scam mailings they had received and dropping them into designated 'Scamnesty' bins at local libraries and other public areas across the country.

Residents in nearly 50 local authorities dropped more than 15,000 scam mailings in Scamnesty bins across the country. Derbyshire, Edinburgh, Brighton and Hove, Hampshire and Norfolk all reported at least 1,000 separate scam mailings.

The campaign revealed that the top five mass-marketed scam mailings in the UK are:

1. deceptive sweepstakes
2. misleading prize draws
3. fake clairvoyants/psychics
4. bogus foreign lotteries
5. 'miracle' health cures

The scam mailings have, provided vital intelligence to the OFT and local authority Trading Standards Services and have helped inform future investigations which will prevent others from being scammed.

Mike Haley, OFT Director of Consumer Protection, said:

'The huge range of mailings uncovered by the Scamnesty campaign illustrate that there really is a scam for everyone. This campaign has provided crucial intelligence, helping us to stop scams bringing misery to millions of people every year.'

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the Consumer Direct website. Consumers can also report scams online on the Report a Scam page of the Consumer Direct website.

NOTES

1. The OFT estimates that over 3 million people in the UK fall victim to mass marketed scams every year, collectively losing £3.5billion. Fewer than 5 per cent of victims report their experience - one reason the OFT and local authority Trading Standards Services carried out the biggest ever public reporting drive for scam mailings.

2. The Scamnesty campaign took place as part of the OFT Scams Awareness month over three weeks in February 2008. The nationwide campaign involved nearly 50 local authority trading standards services. The campaign will be run again by the OFT and Local Authority Trading Standards Services in February 2009.

3. The local authorities taking part included Hampshire, Darlington, Wigan, Scottish Highlands, Bracknell-Forest, Milton Keynes, West Berkshire, Nottinghamshire, Reading, Wokingham, Buckinghamshire, Nottingham, Norfolk, Suffolk, Southend, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warrington, Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, Hull, Stockport, Wirral, Brighton, Dorset, South Gloucestershire, Poole, Edinburgh, Belfast, Wolverhampton, Dundee, Solihull, Telford, Walsall, Dudley, Birmingham, Bristol, Worcestershire, West Yorkshire, West Sussex, North East Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Kent, East Lothian, Doncaster, Clackmannanshire, CEnTSA Scambusters Team.

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? Thousands 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.

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