Trading Standards is urging residents to stay vigilant against scammers after investigating a shocking case, revealing an Oldbury woman being conned out of thousands of pounds, by postal scams.
She has given permission to share her story – anonymously – as part of the council’s Safer 6 community safety campaign, and Supporting Sandwell with the cost of living initiative, in a bid to warn people how they may be targeted by scammers ahead of Christmas, and through the cost of living crisis.
Officers initially contacted the victim after the National Trading Standards Scams Team had recovered £40 of her cash while investigating a mail scam originating in Australia.
When they first visited her to advise her about the scam, she was confident she had only sent money – forty, and then fifty pounds – on two previous occasions.
On a second visit, to return the recovered forty pounds, she was over the moon, saying it was the first time she had won anything. Officers then explained to her that she hadn’t won anything but was having her own money, recovered from the scammer, returned to her.
Assured of confidentiality, she told to officers that she had been sending money to postal scammers since the 1980s, and although she didn’t know the exact amount, she estimated that she had sent more than £50,000 to scammers over a period of more than thirty years.
Although still embarrassed about the experience, she wanted to share her personal story anonymously in the hope of saving others from losing money to scammers.
She said: “The letters were really personal and very convincing. They had example stories where people had won life-changing amounts of money and were living a very comfortable life. I thought it could be me, with a large amount of money I could go on nice holidays, buy nice cars and help out my family and friends.
“It started with just £20 but over the course of thirty-plus years, I realised that I had sent more than £50,000 to different postal scams. Looking back, I feel stupid, ashamed and embarrassed, so much so that I could not tell my children. I am a pensioner and can’t afford to lose any money, especially with the cost of living as it is now.
“My message to others is to stay strong and don’t send any money to these terrible people, they are scammers and thieves.”
Councillor Danny Millard, Sandwell’s cabinet member for communities, said: “I would really like to thank this resident for the courage she has shown in confiding her heart-rending story to our trading standards team, and for allowing us to share the details in a bid to warn others not to be taken in like she was, with devastating results.
“Sadly, we are seeing a surge in all types of scams, whether they be door-to-door, telephone, postal, online or even people knocking at your door. There are many opportunists out there, at home and abroad, always on the lookout for potentially vulnerable people.
“With Christmas approaching, and many people struggling financially, it can be all too easy to be tempted, and taken in by what these criminals promise. If it looks and sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”For tips on spotting a scam, check out advice from the Trading Standards Team and search for ‘scams’ on the Citizens Advice website.
If you believe you or a family member have been the victim of a scam, report it to the council’s partner agency using the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline by calling 0808 223 1133 or using the Citizens Advice online reporting form.
For more information about Sandwell Safer 6 community safety campaign.
For more information about Supporting Sandwell with the cost of living campaign.