| In February 2007 the Advertising
Standards Authority drew attention to the scam letters and
bogus claims made by so called clairvoyants and psychics being
sent out by direct mail to thousands of people in the UK every
year.
BEWARE OF SCAM LETTERS AND FALSE CLAIMS MADE
These letters offer predictions or promise healing properties
for a small fee. Frequently these letters are aggressive in
tone predicting that something bad will happen to the recipient
if they do not send money.
These letters are often personalised to make recipients believe
that they are specially chosen and will continue to mail those
who respond.
One example uncovered by the Office of Fair Trading told
recipients that their location had been booby trapped by negative
psychic energy and offered protection for £29.
Other extravagant and possibly misleading claims are also
made about rituals the psychic will undertake or items of
jewellery that the psychic will provide and which it is claimed
will bring the recipient good luck and ward off evil forces.
Some scam letters offer the recipient the promise of huge
sums of money.
These letters often come from a PO Box address, from
overseas, or an accommodation address
It is estimated that 170,000 people in the UK fall
victim every year to these scams, losing around £40,000,000.
Theses scam letters target the vulnerable and superstitious
on their hopes and fears. |
