MP and Resident's Fight Leads to Crack down on Prize Scam

11.18.26am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 7th Aug 2006

Following a letter to the Office of Fair Trading by Vincent Cable, MP, prompted by a local resident, Mr. Wilson, who has campaigned against prize scams, the Office of Fair Trading has taken action instructing the company (Sure to Win, Ltd) to cease its promotion or face contempt of court proceedings.

The company - trading under the name The Prize Bank Consortium - sent numerous local residents - and a million others - letters telling them that they had won £10,000 and to call quickly on a premium cost number. Callers paid £10 or more for a call and were then offered a "giveaway diamond pendant" which was virtually worthless but had a "packing charge" also. The Office of Fair Trading ordered the company to stop (but only after 200,000 calls were made) via a court injunction.

Vincent Cable said: "Most people who receive these mailings throw them away. But some fall for them. Mr Wilson, who lives in Teddington, has been seeking action for some time and has brought the worst examples to me. On this occasion I was able to persuade the OFT to intervene and stop the practice. Unfortunately, a lot of people had already been tricked and they will not get their money back".