Elderly Couple Conned out of Thousands of Pounds

The son of an elderly South Pembrokeshire couple who spent more than £40,000 of their life savings on fake prize draws has urged others whose family may have also been taken in by scam mail to seek help from Trading Standards.

The man, who does not wish to be named, has spent years urging his parents to ignore junk mail – to no avail.

He said: “Over the years the stress it has put on my father and mother both emotionally and financially has taken its toll on their lives.

“It has also had a severe impact on other members of the family as well who have tried in vain to advise and intervene in my parents’ actions.”

The problems started around 14 years ago when his father, then aged 75, responded to an advert to buy books and videos.

The couple started to receive more and more junk mail, and his father would make it a priority to respond to it – often staying up late into the night to complete the paperwork for prize draws.

Important mail, such as doctors’ appointments, utility bills, and letters from the local authority, would be completely ignored so that he could continue to respond to the scam mail.

A few years later, he started to develop dementia, and although his son tried to intervene many times, his father still believed he would win – and that he was actually working for some of the companies that were contacting him so frequently.

At the peak of the problem in 2008, the couple were receiving approximately 30 to 40 letters a day – the vast majority from overseas.

But they denied that they were responding to it and hid it all over the house – in cupboards and under the bed.

“My parents were very secretive because they had effectively been ‘groomed’ by the scammers not to tell anyone about what they were doing,” said the son, who is 62.

Over a two-year period, the best part of £9,000 was sent to 70 different companies with payments ranging from £10 to £250, often with multiple payments made on the same day.

And they continued to send money – despite receiving a letter from the Office of Fair Trading saying they were victims of a scam, and cheques returned by the Canadian Police.

At last, after lengthy negotiations with Royal Mail, the son was able to re-direct their mail. Thanks to an understanding bank manager, who made him a signatory on their bank account, he was also able to take control of their finances.

“Because of the mental health issues of my parents I was unable to gain Power of Attorney but eventually with the help of the DSS I was made an appointee for my parents, which allowed me to handle their affairs with regards to benefits, council tax, electricity etc,” he said.

He added: “Until recently when I had a meeting with Pembrokeshire Trading Standards I felt alone and climbing an uphill battle with what at times seemed insurmountable opposition from regulated authorities who would not deal with a “third party” only with the person named on the bill.

“If you are worried or concerned about a parent or member of the family who you believe is being scammed, take heart. There are ways around the system, you have to take control of the situation and stop the flow of mail and ‘demanding letters’.”

Pembrokeshire’s Trading Standards service has held a number of surgeries throughout the County offering advice on scams, and further ones are planned.

“Scams can cause a lot of anxiety. We are urging anyone concerned about them to contact us, so that we can provide help and professional advice,” said Nigel Watts, Trading Standards, Animal Health and Welfare Manager.
Cllr Huw George, Cabinet Member Environmental and Regulatory Services, said anyone could be taken in by a scam.

“These scams are incredibly convincing and many people in Pembrokeshire are being targeted,” he said. “If you think you or your family has been affected, please seek advice. The bravest phone call is the first one to Trading Standards.”

The son added that sadly, the hoaxes are so believable that his parents are still not convinced that they were the victims of scams, despite over two years of intervention.

“Even now, if my parents were to receive another letter promising them that they are ‘A Guaranteed Winner’ of an astronomical sum of money they would continue to believe it,” he said.

• There is advice on how to avoid scams on the County Council’s website at www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards
• If you think a member of your family or someone you care for has been affected by a scam – or if you think you have – please contact Pembrokeshire’s Trading Standards team via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 or 03454 040505 (for Welsh speakers).

*featured image: up to a month’s worth of scam mail received by the couple in South Pembrokeshire are (left to right): Rebecca Elliott, Trading Standards Officer; Jenny Tree, Fair Trading Inspector, and Cllr Huw George.