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End of the line for telephone scammers
1. MEDIA RELEASE
MARY HONEYBALL MEP
6 FEB 2009 CONTACT: +44 (0) 7966280542
End of the line for
telephone scammers
The plague of telephone lottery scams, phoney prize draws and pyramid schemes is
to be wiped out by tough new European laws championed by London MEP Mary
Honeyball this week.
These laws offer consumers greater protection from scam pedlars, but as many of
these scammers operate overseas, help from local councils and Trading Standards
Offices to track down the culprits is needed.
So over the next fortnight, London councils including Bexley, Brent, Camden, Ealing,
Harrow, Greenwich, Hammersmith, Richmond, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and
Westminster are taking part in a nation wide “Scamnesty”. This initiative asks local
people to put all scam mail in clearly marked yellow bins placed in public areas such
as libraries.
Speaking out in favour of these new laws local MEP Mary Honeyball said:
“These laws leave no hiding place for those who prey on the vulnerable and elderly,
who scam over 3 million UK consumers each year, causing them lose a staggering
total of £3.5 billion to scams annually.”
“Londoners’ support in tracking down these scammers by posting all scam mail in the
clearly marked Scamnesty bins across the capital will help us track down these thieves
and protect people’s savings in these tough economic times.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Please find attached to this email a photo of Mary Honeyball MEP and Robert
•
Evans MEP.
Mary Honeyball is a Labour Member of the European Parliament representing
•
London with special responsibility for Croydon, Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich,
Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, City of London, Westminster,
Kensington and Camden. For more information contact Holly Sutton on
07966280542 and holly@maryhoneyball.net.
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2. Introduction to Conversational French
Scam facts:
• 3 million UK consumers lose a total of £3.5 billion to scams every year.
• Many scams originate overseas making it difficult to track down and
prosecute those involved
• February is Scam Awareness month.
The EU law which Labour Euro MPs called for has banned the following top
scams:
• Telephone lottery scams
• Phoney prize draw, sweepstakes and foreign lottery mailings
• Premium rate telephone number scams
• Pyramid Schemes
• Investment related scams which make misleading claims regarding the value of
the investment.
Scamnesty: February 2009
Drop off your scam mailings and help us beat the scammers!
Every year 3 million people in the UK lose money to mass marketed scams, such as
bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws, get rich quick schemes, and miracle health
cures.
To mark Scams Awareness Month (February 2009) the OFT is working in partnership
with Trading Standards Services, to run its second 'Scamnesty' campaign, asking for
the public's help to fight back against the scammers.
What is Scamnesty?
During Scamnesty, the OFT is asking the public to deposit any scam mailings they
receive in designated 'Scamnesty' bins. The yellow bins are managed by local
authority trading standards services and will be located in libraries and other public
areas across the country between 2-15 February.
What happens to the mailings received?
Records of the mailings received in each area will be collated by the OFT
Scambusters team. The information will be used as intelligence to support the OFT's
investigations into the scale of the problem in the UK.
How can I find my local bin?
Over 70 Trading Standards Services are taking part across England, Scotland &
Wales, including Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service, Ealing Council Trading
Standards, Hounslow Trading Standards, London Borough of Hammersmith and
Fulham, Richmond Trading Standard
See a list of all the Local Authorities participating in Scamnesty: http://www.oft.gov.uk/
oft_at_work/consumer_initiatives/scamnesty/trading
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3. Introduction to Conversational French
Please visit the relevant Local Authority website for more information on where your
bins are located.
Further information on scams
For more information, visit the OFT's Scams Awareness campaign page: http://
www.oft.gov.uk/news/campaigns/scams/
If you think you been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, visit the Consumer
Direct website: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/
To register to take part in Scamnesty (TSS only)
If you would like to register your Local Authority Trading Standards Services to take
part in Scamnesty, please e-mail: scamspartnership@oft.gsi.gov.uk
What is Scamnesty?
During Scamnesty, the OFT is asking the public to deposit any scam mailings they
receive in designated 'Scamnesty' bins. The yellow bins are managed by local
authority trading standards services and will be located in libraries and other public
areas across the country between 2-15 February.
The campaign has been sparked by tough new European laws championed by London
MEP Mary Honeyball.
Councils taking part:
Bexley Trading Standards
Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service
Ealing Council Trading Standards
Greenwich Trading Standards
London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Richmond Trading Standards
Tower Hamlets Trading Standards
Wandsworth Trading Standards
Westminster Trading Standards Service
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