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18/10/2004
Royal Mail urged to redouble efforts to stop mass mail scams
Royal Mail has been told to "tighten" its procedures in an effort to try to stop fraudsters using the postal system to get to consumers.
The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) made the calls after statistics revealed that 67% of complaints about scams aimed at consumers relate to items delivered through the post.
The figures indicate that, with over six billion pieces of junk mail entering UK letterboxes every year, fraudsters are increasingly using the post to reach consumers, the institute said.
TSI chief Ron Gainsford said that it was high time that more was done to stop scams and bogus prize competitions landing on Britain's doormats.
He added: "In many cases investigated by trading standards staff, the Royal Mail has delivered the items being complained about under contract or formal agreement. We believe Royal Mail should be taking more responsibility to vet those companies it enters into contracts with.
"We want the DTI to consider placing more responsibility on postal companies to ensure that what they deliver is legal and honest."
As TSI research has shown that nearly half of all postal scams originate from within the UK and nearly a quarter from other European countries, the organisation is calling for a "Europe-wide agreement" to get all postal services to take more responsibility for their mass mail shot contracts.
Free information leaflets on the issue are available from any Trading Standards office.
(gmcg/mb)
The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) made the calls after statistics revealed that 67% of complaints about scams aimed at consumers relate to items delivered through the post.
The figures indicate that, with over six billion pieces of junk mail entering UK letterboxes every year, fraudsters are increasingly using the post to reach consumers, the institute said.
TSI chief Ron Gainsford said that it was high time that more was done to stop scams and bogus prize competitions landing on Britain's doormats.
He added: "In many cases investigated by trading standards staff, the Royal Mail has delivered the items being complained about under contract or formal agreement. We believe Royal Mail should be taking more responsibility to vet those companies it enters into contracts with.
"We want the DTI to consider placing more responsibility on postal companies to ensure that what they deliver is legal and honest."
As TSI research has shown that nearly half of all postal scams originate from within the UK and nearly a quarter from other European countries, the organisation is calling for a "Europe-wide agreement" to get all postal services to take more responsibility for their mass mail shot contracts.
Free information leaflets on the issue are available from any Trading Standards office.
(gmcg/mb)
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