Lancashire - Dump your con letters in scamnesty bin
Mail scammers are increasingly targeting the letterboxes and e-mail accounts of Lancashire residents.
The county council has teamed up with the Government's Office of Fair Trading to stamp out fraudsters. They are encouraging residents to bin their scam mailings in so-called "Scamnesty" bins at county libraries, citizens' advice bureaux and Help Direct access points.
Popular scams involve fake psychics, misleading prize draws, sweepstakes and bogus foreign lotteries.
Fake HM Revenue and Customs e-mails offering tax refunds are also doing the rounds.
Jim Potts, chief trading standards officer in the county, said: "In Lancashire alone, scams cost people more than £70m. That's why we're asking people to help us out by bringing any scam mail they receive to one of our Scamnesty bins."
For more information go to www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty/
Links:
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty/ www.lep.co.uk