SCAMS
If you are ever offered an opportunity ALWAYS remember the golden rule:
If it sounds too good to be true - it probably is!
Guaranteed payouts
Mail shots from abroad saying you have won a guaranteed payout or prize are increasingly landing on doorsteps all over the country.
Everybody would like something for nothing but beware! In reality you are likely to be left worse off if you respond to such mail and it’s often the case that those who can least afford to lose money end up out of pocket. Read this page before picking up the phone or sending back that envelope. Hopefully you’ll put such mail where it belongs - straight in the bin!
Many letters worded similarly to the one above are sent out to consumers from abroad. You are expected to phone up or lose but if you look closely you should notice that the phone number is on a premium rate line that means it could cost a pound a minute or more!
If your curiosity gets the better of you and you do phone you’ll find the call is dragged out to bump up the cost to you. After listening to various options you may end up thinking you’ve definitely won something but remember the letter came from abroad.
What can you do if you don’t receive anything? The answer is nothing.
Worse still if you do respond and give out your address you’re likely to be bombarded with more junk mail as your details will be sold on to other companies preying on those who are easily parted from their money.
Foreign lotteries
Letters saying you have won in a foreign lottery or encouraging you to enter foreign lotteries are also common but again you are asked to send off money first, typically between £5.00 and £50.00.
Such scams have been around a while. Trading Standards have heard about various mail shots involving the German, Swedish, Austrian, Australian and Canadian lotteries.
Ask yourself - if you really had won a prize why would you need to send off any money? If you really want to enter a lottery stick to the UK one - at least you can see that your money has been put on the lottery. If you send off to a foreign lottery how do you know where your money will end up?
Why are people allowed to get away with these mail shots?
Dealing with foreign scams and conmen is very difficult for the UK authorities but there has been some success in getting those premium rate phone lines cut off.
The trouble is that the regulators can only act after a problem comes to light and by then many people may have been ripped off. In addition as soon as one company is struck off, a new one surfaces to start up again. The Post Office can refuse to deliver mail from firms shown to be acting illegally but again action can only be taken after a problem comes to light.
So how can I safeguard myself?
If in doubt, do not ring up or reply. You should not have to pay anything if you’ve really won anything. Be wary of anything that ask for money up front or asks you to respond immediately. Be especially wary if the letter has come from abroad.
Read everything very carefully. Does it really sound genuine or is it too good to be true? Do you have to phone up? How much will the call cost you?
Although we are unable to recommend businesses, we may be able to provide you with further information about a company or the latest scams so please check with us before committing yourself.
Keep a bin by your letterbox!
Remember if it sounds too good to be true - It probably is!
Please help us to spread our message and warn other people about the problems they can face with these types of Scams. Please download the information leaflet on the left hand side and give a copy to anyone you know who may be tempted to reply to a mail shot.