East Sussex Trading Standards 2010 “Scamnesty” campaign is off
to a flying start with over 3500 mailings being handed in the first week of the
campaign which is set to run throughout February.
The campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the problem
within East Sussex, and helping victims of scams receive advice and
support.
In the opening week of the campaign officers met with one scam
victim who had been sending around £100 a week to scammers around the world,
responding to prize draw letters each telling him he had won a fortune. He
admitted that despite having been doing this for many years he had never
actually won a penny. He handed in 5 bin liners of scam mail, and the officers
were able to advise him regarding the true nature of the scams.
Trading Standards will have a “Scamnesty” information stall in
the Hastings Priory Meadow Shopping Centre on the 16th February and Eastbourne
Arndale Centre on the 18th February, where people can hand in suspicious
mailings and speak to officers about scams or about any friend or relative they
may be concerned may be a victim of scam mail.
There also is a free “Scambuster” theatre event on Tuesday the
9th March from 10am-1pm at the Horntye Park Sports Centre, Bohemia
Road, Hastings and Monday 15th March 2pm -5pm at the Communitywise
centre, Ocklynge Road, Eastbourne.
All of the County Council’s libraries are taking part in the
campaign which is being replicated by Trading Standards across the UK with the
support of the Office of Fair Trading.
For more advice please call 08454 040506
Louise Baxter
Team Manager
East Sussex Trading
Standards
East Sussex County Council
Telephone 01323 463446
Fax
01323 463422
Email
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To find an Approved Trader, please visit
www.eastsussex.gov.uk/buywithconfidence
