Press Releases
Help us beat the scammers urges North East Labour Euro MP
North East MEP, Stephen Hughes is calling on the public to help beat the dodgy dealers and scam merchants during scam awareness month (February).
From the 2nd to the 15th February there will be a national "Scamnesty" campaign organised by local Councils and Trading Standards Offices across the country.
Labour Euro MP, Stephen Hughes who supported the law to introduce tough standards and rules, warned the scam merchants: "There will be no hiding place for those who prey on the vulnerable and elderly."
"Some of my constituents have been conned out of thousands of pounds. We are determined to stop these scams. 3 million UK consumers lose a total of £3.5 billion to scams every year."
"It is European law that has delivered tougher rules and more protection for consumers. Now we need to act at local level to drive out the dodgy dealers and scam merchants. It is good news for consumers that trading standards are serious about enforcing this new law."
"The public need to help us by passing on any scam mailings that they have received so that trading standards can hit them with the full force of the law and close down their operations." /
-ENDS-
NOTE TO EDITORS: For further information please contact Stephen Hughes MEP on 07770914526 or press officer Cyndi Beaver on 07764198400
Scam facts:
· 3 million UK consumers lose a total of £3.5 billion to scams every year.
· Many scams originate overseas making it difficult to track down and prosecute those involved
· February is Scam Awareness month.
The EU law which Stephen Hughes MEP called for has banned the following top scams:
Telephone lottery scams
Phoney prize draw, sweepstakes and foreign lottery mailings
Premium rate telephone number scams
Pyramid Schemes
Investment related scams which make misleading claims regarding the value of the investment.
Scamnesty: 2 - 15 February 2009
Drop off your scam mailings and help us beat the scammers! Every year 3 million people in the UK lose money to mass marketed scams, such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws, get rich quick schemes, and miracle health cures.
To mark Scams Awareness Month (February 2009) the OFT is working in partnership with Trading Standards Services, to run its second 'Scamnesty' campaign, asking for the public's help to fight back against the scammers.
What is Scamnesty?
During Scamnesty, the OFT is asking the public to deposit any scam mailings they receive in designated 'Scamnesty' bins. The yellow bins are managed by local authority trading standards services and will be located in libraries and other public areas across the country between 2-15 February.
What happens to the mailings received?
Records of the mailings received in each area will be collated by the OFT Scambusters team. The information will be used as intelligence to support the OFT's investigations into the scale of the problem in the UK.
How can I find my local bin?
Over 70 Trading Standards Services are taking part across England, Scotland & Wales.
See a list of all the Local Authorities participating in Scamnesty: http://www.oft.gov.uk/oft_at_work/consumer_initiatives/scamnesty/trading
Please visit the relevant Local Authority website for more information on where your bins are located.
Further information on scams
For more information, visit the OFT's Scams Awareness campaign page: http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/campaigns/scams/
If you think you been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, visit the Consumer Direct website: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/
To register to take part in Scamnesty (TSS only)
If you would like to register your Local Authority Trading Standards Services to take part in Scamnesty, please e-mail: scamspartnership@oft.gsi.gov.uk
ENDS
Stephen S Hughes MEP
North East European Constituency Office
Room 4/38
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UR
Tel: 0191 3849371
Fax: 0191 3846100