Newsroom

OFT launches nationwide 'Scamnesty' campaign

17/08    5 February 2008

Campaign with local authorities asks public to drop in scam mailings to fight back against scammers.

The OFT is today launching 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 the OFT, in partnership with over 50 local authority Trading Standards Services, is 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 country. 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, get-rich-quick schemes and miracle health cures. Many of these scams are sent through the post, as well as by email or over the phone, and target the elderly and vulnerable. However, OFT research suggests that less than 5 per cent of victims report the scam to the authorities.

Scam mailings collected from the 'Scamnesty' bins could provide crucial intelligence to Trading Standards Services and the OFT, help to inform future investigations, and prevent others from being scammed.

Mike Haley, OFT Director of Consumer Protection, said:

'We want to empower the public to help beat the scammers by participating in the Scamnesty campaign. Any scam mailings that are dropped in the bins could be vital in gathering intelligence on the latest scams and in stopping the worst offenders from continuing to bring misery to thousands of vulnerable people each year.'

Ron Gainsford, TSI Chief Executive, said:

'Unfortunately often the first we hear of scam mailings is the horror stories of how people of all ages have received offers of money or prizes and sent off cheques. By asking people to recognise and drop in the scam mailings which they receive, we are helping to provide information about how these scams are evolving and expose scammers' heartless techniques.'

Case studies of people who have fallen victim to mass marketed scams are available from the OFT press office. Please contact the OFT press office about the campaign and contact individual authorities about their plans and designated locations as part of the Scamnesty.

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.

7. The Trading Standards Institute represents the interests of Trading Standards professionals. TSI members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services in local authorities in response to 2 million consumer and business complaints and enquiries each year. For more information about TSI see the TSI website.

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