Scam Wise - Torbay Council

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staySCAMW SESouthwest.“Send £100 torelease yourbig moneyprize”TradingStandardsadviceis “don’trespond”.Throw themin the recyclebin.Don’t send money to “claim” moneyOverseas and other lottery scamsDon’t respond to requests for you to send money toclaim ‘winnings’ from overseas lottery programmes.The scam starts when people respond to mail, e-mails orphone calls (often sent from Canada, Australia or Spain)telling them they are being entered in a national lotteryor some other prize draw. They soon receive a phonecall congratulating them on winning the ‘big prize’.These scams usually ask for personal details - fullname, date of birth, next of kin, bank account -and once you have given these they will ask for asubstantial amount to “claim” your prize, to “register”and to pay “taxes”. Don’t reply!Often these calls are repeated and people send moremoney. UK consumers have lost thousands of pounds. Theprize doesn’t exist and they never receive any winnings inreturn for their cash.If you have lost money and become a victim of an overseasscam, the Office of Fair Trading would like to hear from you.Contact them by calling: 08457 224 499Or report it to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.Prize lettersYou receive a letter stating you have won or are guaranteeda prize. You are asked to send a small fee or make anexpensive phone call to claim the prize. The letter may implywithout specifically stating, that you have won a prize.None of these letters ever pay out any cash prizes. If you dosend money, your name may be sold on to other fraudstersand you will find yourself bombarded with letters of a similarnature. These are invariably sent from outside the UK andEurope, and are very difficult to stop.Phone Consumer Direct for help and advice on 08454 04 05 0610
Prize notifications via mobile phones - SMSmessagesYou receive a text message which implies you have won acash prize and asks you to contact a premium rate numberto claim it. Calls usually cost £1.50 per minute and you willhave to listen for several minutes. The likely result of your callto the high priced number is either a prize or cash amountmuch lower than the one you expected, vouchers which youmust spend more money to redeem, or simply nothing at all.Text the number you want to check to 76787or call Phonepayplus on 0800 500 212.For mobiles this is a free call number.www.phonepayplus.org.ukChain lettersYou receive a letter at your home address telling youof a miraculous way to earn vast sums of money.Usually your instructions are to send £10 to aparticular name and address and then to sendcopies of the letter you received to names andaddresses you are asked to gather from the phonebook. Chain letters like these have been aroundin this country for years without any real evidenceof anyone making huge profits. These letters areusually very difficult to trace back to an original senderbecause they pass through dozens of hands.“Send £10and get £100sback!”Put all junk mail in the recycle bin.Phone Consumer Direct for help and advice on 08454 04 05 0611
Page 1 and 2: getThey’re justout to get yourmon
Page 3 and 4: Driveway gangs & others going door-
Page 5 and 6: Legal and financial servicesSome do
Page 7 and 8: Your right to cancel contracts made
Page 9: Investment schemesYou may be invite
Page 13 and 14: Miracle curesYou receive unsolicite
Page 15 and 16: Is a campaign by TradingStandards i

Scam Wise - Torbay Council

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