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The City of London Police is supporting an anti-fraud campaign to raise awareness of the blight of mass marketing fraud, estimated to cost UK consumers around £2.4 billion each year.
Dubbed the “Silence of the Scams”, the campaign launched today (13 June) with the unveiling of a sculpture (pictured) made by primary school children from a haul of thousands of “scam” letters, intercepted before it could reach vulnerable victims across the UK.
Met Police, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Trading Standards and the National Fraud Authority (NFA) are also supporting the initiative.
From left to right: Mark Ham (Met Police), DC Soraya Hosking (Met Police), Marilyn Baldwin (Think Jessica), Colin Woodcock (SOCA), DCI Richard Waight (City of London Police), Chris Oxley (Artist)
Accompanying the sculpture as it tours Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol, a team will spread awareness and prevention messages by talking to members of the public.
“Think Jessica”, the group leading the drive, hopes to help protect repeat victims of fraudsters, often people who suffer from social isolation or declining mental health.
DCI Richard Waight, who attended the launch of the campaign said:
“This campaign sends a clear message to the criminals who target the vulnerable: you are on our radar, and more and more people are becoming aware of the tricks of your trade."
Scam letters con recipients into investing in bogus schemes such as fake lotteries, share frauds and inheritance scams. Criminals persuade victims to hand over money based on promises of valuable goods, services, or benefits that are never delivered.
A second static sculpture, made by college students in Brighton, will be on display at Brighton Marina on Friday 17 June. It has also been constructed from 30,000 scam letters seized during the course of an operation by SOCA.
If you are a victim of mass marketing fraud contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 20 40 or visit Action Fraud. Alternatively, report the fraud to your local police station.
