Scam mail is transformed for fraud awareness week

13 June 2011

A giant sculpture made from thousands of scam letters seized in SOCA operations was unveiled this morning on London’s Southbank.

The artwork was created by primary school children as part of a week-long mass marketing fraud awareness campaign.

Dubbed Silence of the Scams, the campaign is a joint initiative between the anti-fraud campaign Think Jessica, the police, SOCA, Trading Standards and the National Fraud Authority.

Scam letters are designed to con recipients into parting with money. Many use the prospect of lottery wins, shares, or an unknown inheritance. Some promise valuable goods or services.

Either way, the promise is never met and after replying to a tempter letter, victims’ names can be put on a 'suckers list’ which is then sold to other fraudsters. Chronic victims include some of the most vulnerable people in society, some of whom end up being hounded with terrible consequences.

An estimated £3.5 billion is scammed from UK citizens each year. Around £2.4 billion of this is believed to be as a result of mail scams.

From 13 to 17 June the sculpture will be showcased at prominent locations in London, Manchester and Bristol, accompanied by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and SOCA as well as officers from local forces. The team will talk to the public about the dangers of mass marketing fraud and what they can do to stop themselves or their relatives becoming victims of scammers.

A second sculpture, made by Brighton college students out of scam mail, will be on display at Brighton Marina on Friday 17 June.

If you are a victim of mass marketing fraud contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit the Action Fraud website.

Advice for the families of victims is available from Think Jessica.