War on scammers

Oldham people are being asked to take part in a nationwide drive to fight conmen who cost the UK £3.5 billion a year.

The council’s Trading Standards department is one of 70 working with the Office of Fair Trading, the national Government body which aims to get a fair deal for all consumers.

As part of Scams Awareness Month which started this week,the OFT is asking residents to collect any potential scam mailings they have recently received and drop them in at Trading Standards.

In Oldham, people can leave or post their scam mailings to Oldham Trading Standards, North House, 130 Rochdale Road, OL1 2JA. For e-mail scams forward them to tradingstandards@oldham.gov.uk

Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, Councillor Mark Alcock, said: “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.

“These scams are sent by post, as well as by e-mail or over the phone, and cause particular harm to the elderly and vulnerable. However, research suggests that less than five per cent of victims report the scam to the authorities.”

OFT director of consumer protection, Mike Haley, added: “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.”