Scams
Scam mail (criminal mail) is the name given to letters sent out by criminals, these criminals are called scammers.
The scammers try to make the letters look like they are important documents, hoping to trick the recipient into sending them money or disclose personal information about themselves or family members.
View samples of scam letters here http://www.thinkjessica.com/gallery/
Scammers will use every trick in the book to get you to part with your cash including:
- You have won a lottery, sweepstake or competition... BUT YOU HAVE TO SEND MONEY
- Money you have won is being held in a holding company... BUT YOU HAVE TO SEND MONEY
- Somebody has left you an inheritance... BUT YOU HAVE TO SEND MONEY
- A clairvoyant can stop bad luck or direct good luck towards you... BUT YOU HAVE TO SEND MONEY
- There is a "secret " deal which will make you rich...BUT YOU HAVE TO SEND MONEY
Scammers send out catalogues that sell overpriced household goods, chocolates, biscuits, clothes and general tat. They guarantee a prize to those who order and make it appear like 'you' are the only one to be getting this amazing offer.
They never send the promised prize, but they do send out more promises to get more orders!
The Jewellery Scam: Worthless pieces of Jewellery are accompanied by certificates of 'authenticity' again this scam promises a prize for those who buy
Vitamins and health products: Companies such as Vitamail, Vital Beauty & Biotonic lead people to believe they will receive a prize if they order goods, sometimes phone calls or recorded phone messages telling the victim to look out for the cheque arriving are used to make the scam look even more convincing.)
Criminals claim to be Debt Recovery Agencies: threatening court action if a BOGUS overdue utility bill isn't paid within 7 days. A great many trusting elderly people fall for this scam.
Religious Scam: Criminals use religion as a way of deceiving victims, often claiming they are going to pray at Lourdes.
They are forever coming up with new and more convincing scams so it's important to be vigilant both for yourself and loved ones.
Scammers send authentic looking scam mail from Banks & Building Societies asking for personal information and/or cash. It's more prolific via email, called phishing, but it's still being sent out via the post.
Scam mail is often time sensitive giving the victim short deadlines in which to reply, as the mail increases many victims are on a treadmill. Victims in their 70s, 80s and 90s will spend all day reading, sorting and replying to the mail and become mentally exhausted causing fatigue and confusion. Making them even more vulnerable.
Criminals claiming to be bankers, solicitors, FBI agents and other officials home in. They all give reasons why the promised prize has not arrived and ask for taxes, administration fees, legal fees and anything else they can think of to keep the victim on the "hook"
Chronic victims get trapped in a continuing cycle of receiving letters and phone calls and sending cash!
Shocking But True
Criminals claiming to be clairvoyants hunt down the socially isolated, superstitions, bereaved or troubled. They try to 'befriend' the victim by showing false concern, then demand fees to keep danger away or direct happiness towards them. Many swear the victim to secrecy. Some victims receive phone calls telling them, they will be arrested and taken to Jamaica or a family member will be harmed if they don't pay up.
It’s important to remember that these so–called mystics, clairvoyants, mediums and spiritualists do not know you personally....They are sending identical letters and making the same phone calls to thousands of people. No harm will befall you or your loved ones if you don’t pay up...but if you stay in the trap, you could be financially destroyed!
Remember if you are asked to send money to receive cash or a prize think... "IS IT A SCAM?"
Gran tells how she was conned into spending
£6k on 'worthless vitamins' VITAMAIL SCAM
Sep 14 2009 By Janice Burns
A GRAN has told how she blew £6000 of her pension on worthless vitamins after being caught up in prize draw scam Widow Ann McCorquodale forked out £40-a-week on supplements after being guaranteed a £10,000 pay-out in return But the mail-order con lasted three years and has left the 77-year-old penniless with a house bulging with health products The irony is Ann can't even use the vitamins because of existing medication she takes. Last night, she said: 'I still can't believe I let them con me for three years. I didn't tell a soul about what was going on, not even my family It was my secret. I felt horribly guilty. Retired nurse Ann, from Greenock, was lured by the promise that a huge cheque from Vitamail was onits way if she sent the company £40 order for vitamins every week When the cheque never arrived, the pensioner considered cutting off all contact with the ruthless French firm and even wrote a letter telling them to leave her alone But Ann felt bullied and threatened by constant letters and phone calls and for years she continued to send postal orders to Vitamails Bedford PO Box number Ann had hoped to use the £10,000 to make her dream of visiting her daughter and grandchild in Australia come true. Every week Vitamail promised she would have the money in 10 days and that a photographer would call and take photos of her with her cheque They also sent her letters with pictures of other happy pensioners who had won the cash to keep her hooked
Ann isn't the only one to fall for the scam. Hundreds have posted comments on blogs and forums warning people to steer clear of Vitamail.
Last night, she said: 'I feel so stupid and ashamed that I could have been sucked in by this scam. I was desperate to find the money to go and visit my daughter and granddaughter because my heart has been broken since they moved to Australia four years ago. 'Then when this letter came through the door offering a chance to win £10,000 I jumped at the chance 'Now I feel like a total fool.'
Warning from Scam UK
Scammers using the name Mystic X or Karina Natalia are placing adds in magazines, do not reply, give details or send cash.
