Pubs warned over scams

By Gemma McKenna

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Confidence trick

Email is now the most common approach for scams
Email is now the most common approach for scams
Scammers are using more sophisticated tactics to dupe cash out of people, according to a survey carried out by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). ...

Scammers are using more sophisticated tactics to dupe cash out of people, according to a survey carried out by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). 

The OFT kicked off its 2010 Scams Awareness Month today with new research that shows one million consumers have lost more than £50 in scams in the past year. 

Over four million adults said they have responded to a scam, of whom nearly a third lost money. 

Around two million adults have responded to a scam in the last year. The survey revealed that half of those scammed have lost more than £50 in total, with 5% losing more than £5,000.

Email is now the most common scam approach — 73% of adults have received a scam email in the past year. This is followed by letter scams (21%) and text message scams (12%). Social media networks provide a new route for scammers, targeting 9% of adults.

Scam awareness

This year's Scams Awareness Month aims to raise awareness of the scale of the problem with a nationwide "Scamnesty" run in partnership with 129 local authority Trading Standards Services.

The campaign calls on consumers to drop scam mailings they have received into designated 'Scamnesty' bins or boxes. 

Consumer Minister Kevin Brennan said: "We have invested £7.5 million to create 'scambuster' teams across the country.

"These specialist Trading Standards teams are working hard with the Police and others across local authority boundaries to come down hard on the worst scammers. We are determined to take the fight to these crooks."

• Have you been targeted by scammers? Email trzzn.zpxraan@jvyyvnz-errq.pb.hx​.

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