If you’ve been the victim of a scam, via post, email, text, phone or on the internet, then you’re not alone. According to a survey conducted by The Office of Fair Trading, around one in 11 (just over 4 million) adults say they have responded to a scam at some time in their life, of whom nearly a third lost money. Email is now the most common scam approach with 73 per cent of adults having received a scam email in the past year.

SCAMS AWARENESS MONTH

But what can be done to avoid these increasingly sophisticated and manipulative tactics? Up until now, very little, which is why, this February, The Office of Fair Trading has launched it’s 2010 Scams Awareness Month.

This year’s Scams Awareness Month is seeking to raise awareness of the scale of the problem with a nationwide ‘Scamnesty’, run in partnership with 129 local authority Trading Standards Services.

The campaign calls on consumers to drop scam mailings they have received into designated ‘Scamnesty’ bins or boxes at local libraries and public areas across the country. Consumers looking for their nearest bin can do a postcode search at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty. The site also features an online bin where people can send suspected scam websites and emails.

EMOTIONAL IMPACT

The campaign is also highlighting the damaging emotional impact that scams can have on victims. John Fingleton, Chief Executive of the Office of Fair Trading said: ‘Scammers are using ever more sophisticated and cunning tactics to dupe people out of their cash. We want people to recognise the warning signs, and feel confident enough to seek advice from friends and family or from Consumer Direct.’

Consumer Minister Kevin Brennan said: 'It is really important that people are on their guard and know that help is available as scams can bring real upset and misery to their victims. We have invested £7.5 million to create ‘scambuster’ teams across the country. These specialist Trading Standards teams are working hard with the Police and others across local authority boundaries to come down hard on the worst scammers. We are determined to take the fight to these crooks.'

FIND OUT MORE

To find out more information, locate your nearest Scamnesty bin or report a suspect email or online scam, visit the Consumer Direct scams website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty

1 February 2010