| 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. |
