Vale of Glamorgan Trading Standards warn of lottery scam -
21/09/06
Vale of Glamorgan Trading Standards officers are warning
residents about lottery scammers who make indivdiuals think thy've
won the lottery – and then steal their identity.
Residents of the Vale have received unsolicited letters telling
them they have won a prize in the Spanish lottery and either need
to pay an administration fee to release the cash or supply bank
details.
In the process, they are asked for their signature and this,
together with their bank details, gives the scammers enough
information to possibly steal the victim's identity.
Although no-one targeted by this scam in the Vale has yet
proceeded further than this stage, Trading Standards officers are
warning that, in such scams, victims are often asked to pay a
charge to release their winnings, which they will never
receive.
Vale Council Consumer Education Officer Kate Palmer said: "We
strongly advise against providing any information to the fraudsters
who run these scams.
"Do not respond at all to any postal demands or emails of this
kind and, if you have already replied, cease all communication
immediately.
"Forward all fraudulent lottery correspondence to your local
Trading Standards team or to the Office of Fair Trading.
"Always remember that, if you give out your personal details,
fraudsters have enough information to commit identity theft and can
then access your bank and credit card accounts or carry out illegal
acts in your name."
For further information, contact Consumer Direct Wales on 08454
04 05 06 or Vale of Glamorgan Trading Standards on 01446
709105.