Incitement To Send Scam Mail
In what might come as a shock to my security blogging mate, I am suggesting that if you live in the Gateshead area, and receive any scam letters, you should by all means forward them on.
This applies specifically to suspected physical scams. [Update: nope, according to someone who heard something about it on the radio, it applies to email too]
Why? Because Gateshead Council are having:
…a year-long project to investigate the nature of the scams which are most often targeted against local people, to see if there are any common features which will help Gateshead Council to devise effective counter-measures against them.Gateshead Council
It’s important to note that I don’t think that they have an interest in e-scams at the moment (although they do reference Nigerian banks so I’m not clear on this); I think they are just after the sort of thing that gets shoved through your door, anything that you think may be a suspected scam such as those scratchcards you always win on.
Currently, you are advised to call into your local branch library and drop the stuff off in there, which should be relatively easy for most Gateshead residents. I would like to think however that if you are unable to do this, but can post the stuff off to the council instead (note: it ain’t freepost, you’d need to pay) and mark the envelope ’scamnesty’ that it would get to the right people. There is also an email address that you can send stuff to, which is [email protected]. I am aware that publishing this mail will probably lead to scammers sending mail there, but then again, that is rather the point…
Remember, this is for Gateshead residents. If you live elsewhere, please pester your own local authority.
Anything we can do to stop these bastards (the scammers, that is) is worth doing.
I would like to think that this would cover e-scams as well, although the global nature of these may make it more difficult for a local authority to target. It is always worth keeping an eye on Sophos’ list of recent and prevalent hoaxes, as these will have a list of scams “going down” at the moment. They also have a more comprehensive A-Z list of e-scams, so if you’re not sure, check.
Two tips:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it isn’t true.
- Remember, no one runs a business or offers a prize unless they can make a profit from it somehow. If you can’t work out how the particular thing is likely to turn a profit to the organisers, don’t trust it.
Hello. I am 
..well on the radio they said they wanted yoru scam emails too, but I suspect they’ll want you to print them off and drop them in the ’scam box’, otherwise I could expect Trading Standards getting one or two emails from their IT colleagues..(but it didn’t say to print them on the radio)
I think those scams are a good thing, If you fall for something along those lines you deserve to be parted from your money
Matt,
you may qualify for a special offer on my book “are you gullible?”. Simply send me £20…
You can just tell me about it in the pub.