Paul Holmes MP calls on constituents to 'drop in and drop them in it'

3.54.00pm GMT Wed 3rd Feb 2010

Paul Holmes, MP for Chesterfield is supporting a nationwide 'Scamnesty' campaign by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and local authority Trading Standards Services, which aims to help end the scourge of mass marketed scams mailings in the UK. The campaign is coming to Chesterfield this February.

Paul said "I was shocked to learn that nearly half of the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam. Every year, 3.2 million adults - one in 15 people - across the country fall victim to a scam involving deceptive unsolicited mailings, phone calls or emails, which are designed to con victims of their cash. UK consumers lose around a staggering £3.5 billion to scams every year."

"I am calling on the people of Chesterfield to fight back against the fraudsters by collecting any scam mailings they receive and dropping them into designated 'Scamnesty' bins located at Chesterfield Library."

Over the previous two years, residents in nearly 100 local authorities dropped over 20,000 scam mailings in Scamnesty bins across the country. The campaign revealed that the top five mass marked scam mailings in the UK at that time were: 1) deceptive sweepstakes; 2) misleading prize draws; 3) fake clairvoyants/psychics; 4) bogus foreign lotteries; and 5) 'miracle' health cures.

Paul said: "Every day, people are at risk from unscrupulous fraudsters who want to con them out of their cash. By dropping your scam mailing into your local Scamnesty bin, you will help reduce 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, visit Consumer Direct for clear and practical advice at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty.

During Scamnesty month (February 2010), they can also report online scams to the 'virtual bin' on the Consumer Direct website, www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The OFT estimates that over 3 million people in the UK fall victim to mass marketed scams every year, collectively losing £3.5 billion. 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 February 2008 and 2009. The nationwide campaign involved nearly 100 local authority Trading Standards Services.

3. 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 like to have received the same officer. Think again - read the offer carefully. If you are unsure, speak to family or friends or seek advice.