ISLE of Wight Council Trading Standards is joining forces with the Office of Fair Trading this month (February) in a nationwide “Scamnesty” campaign.
The campaign which runs throughout February aims to crack down on unscrupulous firms who run mail order “scams” to try and con money out of vulnerable people.
Council trading standards officers are asking members of the public to collect any potential scam mailings they have recently received and drop them in designated “scamnesty” boxes at local libraries and other public areas.
The designated areas are being promoted locally by Trading Standards officers with the theme of ‘Drop in and drop them in it.’
Information gathered from the leaflets could help trading standards in their fight against the scam artists.
Every year nationwide, 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 five percent of victims report the scam to the authorities.
Scam mailings collected from the “Scamnesty” bins could provide crucial intelligence to Trading Standards Officers 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.”
Councillor Diana Tuson Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for safer communities said: “Every year, hundreds of vulnerable people on the Isle of Wight fall victim to these scams.
“The council is proud to be associated with this scheme and would like to thank businesses on the Island that are taking part over the coming month.”
The scamnesty runs between February 5 and February 29. Collection bins will be placed in the following locations.
Morrisons – Lake and Newport.
Sainsburys
Tesco
Co-op at Freshwater and Cowes.
Libraries 5-8 February Newport; 8-19 February, Ventnor; 19-22 February, Freshwater; 25-28 February Ryde.
