PENSIONER FALLS FOR £120-A-WEEK SCAMS IN POST

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/321 ... ms-in-post" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A SON has called for action to stop the “insidious predatory menace” of scam letters after more than 100 were sent to his frail father.

The flood of unsolicited mail offering the chance to turn small sums of money into fortunes has been plaguing his 77-year-old father for four years.

Brian Reidy has been spending up to £120 a week on lotteries that he has little, if any, chance of winning.

Mr Reidy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years ago and has difficulty walking. He spends most of his time in his house in Finsbury Park, north London, so looks forward to any mail that arrives.

The scale of the problem was realised only when his son Patrick redirected the letters to his house in Limehouse, east London.

Patrick said: “In the first 10 days I received about 140 letters. They were from all over the world offering huge prizes in return for cash entry fees.

“Some contained cheques for less than £1 to suck you in to believing the scam.” The 38 year old described it as an “insidious predatory menace”.

Marilyn Baldwin, founder of ThinkJessica, a group set up to help victims of scam mail, said: “Many of those that fall for these scams are vulnerable and try to keep it to themselves. As this is a silent problem we can’t be sure if it is getting worse but more victims are coming forward.

“Since 2007 we have been receiving up to 20 serious cases a day, where victims have sold their homes, emptied their bank accounts or even committed suicide under the pressure.”

When Patrick visited his father he would find the dining-room table and floor littered with colourful envelopes.
He said: “Even now half of him thinks the cheque is due.

“The other half of him is angry, he thinks he should be able to take these people to court for misrepresentation. Royal Mail has to take some responsibility for all this, as it is making money from all this by delivering the letters.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail is determined to do all it can to root out scam mail. We understand the upset that scam mail can cause households, especially vulnerable people.

“We don’t want our postmen and women handling or delivering mail that causes harm. Royal Mail has a legal duty to deliver all the mail posted through our network.

“We urge anyone concerned about scams to contact the Advertising Standards Authority.”
If you need help or know anyone that does, e-mail advice@think jessica.com or write to Think Jessica, PO Box 44, 42 Chesterfield S44 9AS.

[Lounge Lizard]

"Royal Mail has to take some responsibility for all this, as it is making money from all this by delivering the letters.”
but "Royal Mail has a legal duty to deliver all the mail posted through our network."

[glenfiddich]

suppose its Royal Mails fault people get into credit card debt because we deliver all the applications

[Lounge Lizard]

suppose its Royal Mails fault people get into credit card debt because we deliver all the applications

Indeed. Royal Mail should employ thousands of extra staff to open all envelopes, censor the contents and return to sender any that might cause the recipients distress.

[Red Robbo]

Believe it or not a postman asked me once for my opinion of a letter sent to his mother who is of 80 years of age if she had won some money from one of our customers, everyone in the street had one, so its not just the old and infirm who are misled.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

, so its not just the old and infirm who are misled.

P&M 2007, BT2010, Colleagueshares, Job & Finish, Lapsing, Absorbing and more holiday slots hmmmmmm yes I agree with you.

[fishtank]

suppose its Royal Mails fault people get into credit card debt because we deliver all the applications

Indeed. Royal Mail should employ thousands of extra staff to open all envelopes, censor the contents and return to sender any that might cause the recipients distress.

As you are well aware most of this junk comes through these people.

http://www.springglobalmail.co.uk/en/About_Us/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Our joint venture was formed in 2001 by two of the world's most dynamic and respected postal organisations: PostNL (former TNT Post) of the Netherlands and Royal Mail of the United Kingdom

So yes we are directly profiting from scam mail,and yes we are well aware it's scam mail and nobody needs to open it to know that.
It is something that i am personally ashamed of having a part in even if it is a small part.