More than 180 people in Blaenau Gwent targeted by scammers

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local ... nt-7870710" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Residents across the borough are being warned about scams after cash and cheques were seized

Residents are being warned about the dangers of scams after cash and cheques were seized at a PO Box address used by scammers.

Money was intercepted by Blaenau Gwent Council officers working in partnership with the National Scams Hub (NSH), which has also uncovered lists of potential Blaenau Gwent victims of scams.

Trading Standards officers are now visiting residents who they believe may have been targeted.

The NSH currently gets intelligence from a number of sources, including seized lists and names uncovered in the course of investigations, which it passes on to participating local councils.

The lists contain details of vulnerable people who are likely to respond to scam mailings. There are many different types of scams – fake charities, lotteries, prize draws – and those who reply to a scam letter for the first time are put on the lists and their details sold to criminals all over the world.

Victims are often silent and unaware they have been defrauded believing that the prizes offered are genuine.

The NSH has identified 183 people in Blaenau Gwent whose names appear on the lists and Trading Standards officers are visiting these people to advise them how to identify scams.

Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith has also been campaigning on the doorsteps of the borough as part of Age Cymru’s efforts to protect vulnerable members of society from fraudsters.

Now Royal Mail and Trading Standards have announced they will be joining forces to tackle scam mail.

It means posties will be getting in on the act, being trained to report scam mail and stop it doing any harm.

It will also be easier and more effective to cancel the contracts of companies that send fraudulent mail.

Mr Smith said it sent a message to the scammers who prey on the misery of others.

“This takes the shackles off of the poor postal worker who’s seen these flurries of junk mail but can’t do anything to stop it,” he said.

“If they know certain post is putting people at risk, they can now report it to the right people and stop it at the source.

“This is a massive step towards sparing people from the ravages of scams and hoaxes.”

Mr Smith has been handing out ‘no cold-calling’ stickers and helping people to sign up to schemes to avoid unsolicited mail and phone calls since May’s Scams Awareness Month.

For further details on scams, visit http://www.thinkjessica.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or http://www.agecymru.org.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .

Anyone who is concerned about a possible scam or is worried about a friend or relative can contact Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit http://www.actionfraud.police.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[wabbithunta]

Something similar to this happened in the GU area the other year, and it was in the local papers. The end result was that they were eventually caught and got banged up in nick.