Too good to be true

The message in many cases is simple: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

A typical postal scam, to which many older or isolated people are vulnerable, is the fake lottery letter: it says you have won some money — although you never bought a lottery ticket! It asks you to send them some money in order to receive your prize.

The “Think Jessica” campaign is highlighting some harrowing cases of many people becoming addicted to such scam mail and parting with hundreds of pounds of their savings — even though the so-called lotteries are completely fake.

Oxford CAB is the home of the Consumer Empowerment Partnership for Oxfordshire. We are there to empower consumers — customers in shops or online, users of public transport, victims of telephone or postal scams.

At the beginning of this month the Consumer Empowerment Partnership helped Oxfordshire trading standards to distribute 85 ‘Scamnesty’ boxes around the county. They are encouraging people to post their unwanted scam mail and to be ‘scam aware’.

There are stands at shopping centres and market squares as well as in local libraries throughout the month of May, manned by CAB volunteers and trading standards staff. Remember, it could be a scam if:

• The call, letter, email or text has arrived unexpectedly
• You’ve never heard of the lottery or competition they are talking about and didn’t buy a ticket
• They are asking you to send money in advance n They are telling you to respond quickly
• They are telling you to keep it a secret.

Get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service: 0845 404050. Report a scam or suspected scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Tell a friend, neighbour or relative about any scams you become aware of There are details of the local campaign on a special webpage during this month caox.org.uk/sam14

For information, or to offer to help, contact davidCEP@cab-oxford.org.uk  01865 304125.