SCAM mail could drop after hundreds of overseas post boxes were shut down following an investigation by
Warwickshire Trading Standards.
Fraudsters using Dutch PO boxes to send out millions of postal scams to Warwickshire residents and receive cash from victims have been thwarted after 300 were closed.
Trading standards compiled a list of 70 such boxes, based on accounts from county residents who had fallen victim to mail fraud – including bogus clairvoyant letters and prize draw winner notifications.
The addresses were passed to the UK’s National Scams Team who worked with the United States Dept of Justice and Dutch law enforcement to shut down the fraudsters.
Eight premises in Holland were also raided and assets seized.
Warwickshire County Council community safety spokesman Coun John Horner said: “Trading standards officers have been working with UK postal services for a long time, identifying the victims of scam mail and taking action to prevent those very vulnerable people being scammed further.
“However, this is the first time that the service has been able to take the fight abroad, to those sending the scam mail out.”
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams for more information, or call the Citizens Consumer Advice Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 to make a complaint.
