City council supports scamnesty campaign
Released: 4 February 2008
Wolverhampton City Council’s Trading Standards Service is supporting the Office of Fair Trading’s national ‘Scamnesty’ campaign.
The Office of Fair Trading campaign is running from today, Monday February 4, to Wednesday February 27, 2008, with the aim of increasing consumer awareness of scam mailings, particularly:
- Bogus lotteries
- 'Clairvoyant' scams
- Deceptive prize draws
- Misleading premium rate phone competitions/sweepstakes
- ‘Miracle’ health cures
Wolverhampton City Council’s Trading Standards Service is backing the campaign by organising local ‘drop-off’ points for consumers to deliver scam mailings at public buildings.
Wolverhampton ‘drop-off’ points and measures to promote the campaign include:
- Wolverhampton and Bilston Markets: Market offices
- Central Library (first floor landing): Marked ‘Post Box’
- Civic Centre (main reception/reception point 14): Marked ‘Post Boxes’
Age Concern: Marked ‘Post Box’
- Bilston Street and Wednesfield Police Stations: Posters to promote awareness directing consumers to other ‘drop-off’ points
- Mailing to Neighbourhood Watch groups: 600 copies of a ‘Dear Resident’ letter explaining the campaign
Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Pat Byrne said: “We are urging residents to come forward with examples of these scams so they can be effectively dealt with by the Office of Fair Trading, regional ‘Scambusters’ Trading Standards Team or by the city council if appropriate.”
At the end of the campaign, in late February, the Office of Fair Trading will collate national results and publicise the outcomes.
Issued by the press office.
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