Scams more sophisticated than ever warns MP

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 5th Feb 2007

This month is the OFT's 'scams awareness month'

Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce has welcomed the launch of Scams Awareness Month and is warning his constituents to be aware of the range of increasingly sophisticated scams creeping into every day life.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) launched their awareness campaign for February and has identified some of the most common scams affecting people today. Collectively, these scams are thought to have resulted in over 2.5 million victims and cost the UK around £3.5 billion each year.

Welcoming the OFT initiative, Mr Bruce is encouraging consumers not only to be aware of scams but also to gather as much information as possible about how to recognise and importantly, to report any scams. He said:

"People need to be more vigilant than ever when it comes to scams. Improvements in technology means a lot of scams are becoming more and more sophisticated using tools such as the internet, email and text messaging to target unsuspecting people. In particular I would advise people to always think twice about giving personal or banking details to unknown parties. "

"While I welcome new legislation which aims to tackle these scams such as the introduction of European-wide Consumer Protection laws, unfortunately, it is often the case that the scammers remain one step ahead, which means as consumers, we must remain alert."

"As the saying goes, if an offer looks too good to be true - it probably is."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The five main scams identified by the Office of Fair Trading are:

• bogus holiday clubs, whereby UK holidaymakers are pressurised into joining exclusive holiday clubs that do not then deliver what is promised;

• prize draw and sweepstake scams, involving the need to call premium rate telephone numbers to claim prizes, which often end up being low value 'giveaway' items;

• health and slimming cure scams, involving pills, lotions and creams which promise 'miracle' cures;

• clairvoyant mailings;

• fake foreign lotteries, in which people are asked to send money to cover administration costs and the 'winnings' are then never received.

Further information on the campaign can be found at: http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press+releases/2007/12-07.htm