An annual national campaign targeting scam letters has been launched this month.
Residents are being urged to keep an eye out for scam letters falling through their letterbox as part of the “Scamnesty” camapaign.
Run by Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading, and supported by Caerphilly County Borough Council, the campaign encourages people to drop their scam mailings into special “Scamnesty” bins this month.
Cllr Rob Gough, cabinet member for public protection, engineering and transport said: “We are fully behind this campaign to raise awareness of scams and scam mailings. Nearly half of the UK population has at some point been targeted by a scam and every year more than three million adults across the country fall victim to a scam.
“If an offer you receive looks too good to be true, then the chances are it probably is – this excellent awareness raising campaign calls on people to bin their scam mail to show the scammers that they have not been tricked.”
Scam letters often take the form of bogus and fraudulent offers of money sent by post, telephone or email.
Fake lottery and prize draw wins, bogus psychic predications, get-rich-quick investment cons and miracle health cures are just some of the tricks used by scammers.
More than three million adults, one in 15 people, fall victim to scams, losing a total of £3.5 billion every year.
“Scamnesty” bins will be placed in the following locations:
- Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Penallta House and Pontllanfraith House
- Customer First Centre’s in Pontlottyn and Risca
- Libraries in Blackwood, Bargoed, Caerphilly, Risca and Rhymney
- Newbridge Cash Office
- Machen Library, Village Hall and Social Centre