Scams Alert Campaign by Trading Standards

1st February 2011

Scams Alert Campaign Launched by Highland Council Trading Standards

Highland Council Trading Standards in partnership with The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) annual Scams Awareness Month is reminding consumers to be ever vigilant against possible scams.

The nationwide 'Scamnesty' campaign runs from 1st to 28th February 2011 and aims to warn consumers not to be fooled by mass marketed scam mailings that bombard UK consumers every year.

OFT figures states that nearly half of the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam. It is estimated that 3.2 million adults, (or one in 15 people), falls victim to a scam. And in the UK consumers lose around �3.5 billion every year to scams.

Consumers are being urged to be on their guard not only from scam mailings that they receive through the post but also unsolicited phone calls, emails and text messages.

Figures above are based on the top five complaints received by Consumer Direct, (the OFT-managed consumer advice service) during 2010. These complaints include scams relating to:

Advance fee and money transfers,
Prize draws and sweepstakes,
Ticket scams
Foreign lotteries,
Career or job opportunities.
Consumers can find out more information about how to tackle scams: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk or by telephone on 08454 04 05 06.

Alternatively consumers can visit or write to Highland Trading Standards, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UF for free and confidential advice.
For further Highland Trading Standards news please go to: www.highland.gov.uk/tradingstandardsnews