TEAM WORK TO DEFEAT THE SCAMMERS

Trading Standards officers from Salford City Council visited the Salford delivery office on Cross Lane to raise awareness among local post workers about scam mail and how to identify and report it. The visit supplemented Royal Mail’s ongoing work to reduce scam mail.

Following the joint initiative, over 70 Salford residents thought to have been targeted by scammers will now be offered advice and support while one potential victim has already come forward to ask for help.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, said:

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“Postal workers are well aware of scam mail and said that some of their own families have fallen victim to the tactics of these despicable predators. They were horrified at the amount of money residents in Salford have lost and only too eager to work with their internal security team which will pass on information for our trading standards officers to investigate.

“Some postmen and women told us they do warn vulnerable customers if they suspect the letters are from scammers, particularly when half a dozen other addresses nearby are all receiving the same ‘you are guaranteed a prize’ letters and we’re grateful for that.

“Everyone needs to be alert to scammers and their constantly changing tricks. Never give money or personal details, to anyone unless you have checked they are absolutely genuine.”

 

Salford trading standards officers also gave the postal workers Think Jessica leaflets to deliver. The leaflet and campaign explain how scammers work and urge people to seek help if they feel they are being targeted. As a result, one potential victim has already come forward for help.

Councillor Lancaster added:

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“Working alongside our postal workers is another tactic to try and keep Salford residents safe. If you or anyone you know is receiving scam mail or you suspect they are being targeted then please contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06.”

Royal Mail has successfully intercepted and stopped more than three million scam mail items from reaching UK homes since stepping up its drive against fraudsters in November 2016.

The list of anti-scam initiatives taken by Royal Mail includes:

• Leading the industry to launch a new Code of Practice on scam mail
• Writing to impacted households by Special Delivery to alert them to scam mail
• Stopping scam mail from reaching letterboxes by impounding at distribution centres
• Working with the National Trading Standards Scams Team to train our delivery people to identify scam mail
• Providing a special helpline, email address and Freepost address for customers
• Providing funding for the national ‘Friends Against Scams’ initiative
• Working in partnership with postal services in other countries

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“We are committed to doing everything we can to stop this fraudulent material from reaching UK households,” said Stephen Agar, Managing Director of Letters at Royal Mail. “We continue to deploy a range of different initiatives to keep one step ahead of the scammers.”

Some postal scams to ignore:

Lotteries and prize draws. Remember, if you didn’t enter, you can’t have won.  Genuine lotteries also never ask for a fee to collect your winnings.

Psychics and clairvoyants asking you for money to reveal your future. It’s a scam.

Investment schemes, requests to help transfer money or chain letters. If it seems too good to be true it usually is and nothing will happen if you break the chain

Hard luck stories.  Don’t even reply or they will continue contacting you

Bogus job offers. Legitimate agencies never charge registration fees

Unclaimed inheritance. Always check with the Solicitors Regulation Authority before acting. They regularly receive reports of such scams and post them on their website

Look out also for letters that want you to respond quickly, not tell anyone and which ask for money or personal details. Or ones which use PO box addresses so they can’t easily be contacted and which contain spelling or grammar mistakes.