Don't fall for postal con tricks

DURING National Consumer Week last week, trading standards nationally highlighted risks to consumers and businesses associated with scams such as premium rate phone numbers, scratch cards, unsolicited email and post.

Recent research shows that the potential loss to the community amounts to £7million per annum.

Research by the Local Authority Co-ordinating Body for Regulatory Services, showed how often cons are targeted at both consumers and businesses.

A total of 101 local authority trading standards departments responded and recorded a total 1,165 complaints during this period.

Most frequent scams are messages left on answering machines, informing the consumer that they had won a holiday, asking them to call back using a premium rate telephone service at an average cost of £1.50 per minute.

One consumer had reportedly lost £32,000 when he responded to a hoax Australian lottery. The letter specified that in order for him to claim £650,000 in winnings he had to send this money to Australia via Western Union to cover taxation costs, administration fees and international clearance of funds.

You may well think that that would never happen up here , yet this week, here in Blackburn, a consumer has told us that he sent over £20,000 to agents purporting to act for the Spanish Lottery El Gordo, having received a letter from them saying he had won 515,800 euros.

Most frequent business cons include anti-money laundering scams advising businesses that they have a legal duty to train and certify employees in relation to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations of 2003. The Notice asks the traders to pay £75 per employee for a training pack. Others involved letters to traders advising them that they have to register under the Data Protection Act and pay an average£100 per business.

My advice is never to send off any money or bank details in response to letters you receive that purport to tell you have won a prize or that you have a legal duty to pay. Check it out first. After all, if you haven't bought a ticket, how can you have won a prize?