These mailshots falsely claim to be affiliated with the event, include official logos, and ask recipients for money to claim a huge cash prize. I'd encourage people to talk about Scamnesty with their older friends and relatives, as well as sending in their own scam mail. The intelligence they can provide is crucial because they are likely to be at the end of the mailings. The aim of the fraudsters is to trick vulnerable people into sending money. The average amount requested this year in postal scams is 48, usually in cash, officers said. If people responded they would be targeted and many victims have lost thousands of pounds.
More than 80% of the postal scam examples seen by officers this year have been clairvoyant scams, where recipients are promised more detailed readings if they send money.
John Herriman, Chief Executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute CTSI, said Trading Standards professionals are witness to the devastating effects of scams day in and day out. The criminals behind these letters aim to target the most vulnerable in our society, and at this time of year those who feel isolated and lonely are more inclined to respond to scam mail arriving out of the blue.
Our lead officers have witnessed a number of horrific cases whereby victims have lost 100,000 to scam mail.