Trading group offers advice to avoid scams

A Spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment said:

"The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's Consumerline regularly receives complaints from consumers who have received letters, emails or texts telling them that they have won something exciting in a prize draw, sweepstake or lottery, without having entered. While some of these approaches are legitimate, others are a dishonest attempt to trap consumers into parting with their money.

"This type of scam usually offers access to a top prize in return for an 'administration' or 'delivery' fee of between 15 - 30. However, once consumers send off their money they are unlikely to hear anything more from the prize draw company. Usually consumers get nothing in return, but if they do receive something it is worth very little and not what was promised. Anything that is 'won' is usually sub-standard, overpriced or misleadingly described and worth much less than the requested fee.

"Many common scams take the form of prize draws or lotteries designed to trick the unwary. These type of scams are usually based outside the UK, although they may use UK Post Office or mail boxes.

"The introduction of The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 lists commercial practices which are considered unfair in all circumstances and which are prohibited. Bogus prize draws that require a consumer to pay money or incur costs to claim a prize are one such 'banned practice' and, therefore, a criminal offence."

To avoid becoming a scam victim, Damien Doherty, Area Inspector for the Trading Standards Service offers the following advice:

l Ask yourself, 'How could I win a prize if I haven't entered a competition?'

l Usually, if you win something you don't have to pay anything to receive your prize

l Once you respond to bogus promotions, your name and address is likely to be placed on other lists for similar scams

l If asked to use a premium rate telephone number, remember these can be very expensive and may be part of the scam

l Never reveal credit card or bank account details unless absolutely sure who you're dealing with. These details may be asked for as 'identification'.

l Register with the Mailing Preference Service to stop receiving unsolicited mail.

l Enter the prize draw company details into an internet search engine to check its bona fides. These checks can provide invaluable information on the scammers.

l Are you being asked to send a fee to PO Box address?

If you think you may have been the victim of a scam, or suspect a scam, tell family and friends and contact Consumerline on 0300 123 62 62 or 028 9025 3900 or log on to www.consumerline.org