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Lottery scam couple forced to remortgage
By Andrew Hutchinson A COUPLE left penniless after falling foul of a Spanish lottery scam have been forced to remortgage their Leeds home to pay off their debts.
Consumerwatch reported how the couple, who have asked to remain anonymous, have been left to count the cost after scamsters fleeced them out of more than 20,000.
They coughed up the cash believing they had won a 650,000 Euro (478,000) jackpot.
But they were left saddled with huge debts after taking out a credit card and loan to cover the cost of upfront fees in order to release their bogus prize.
They have now been left with no choice but to remortgage their home leaving their retirement plans in tatters.
The 72-year-old husband told Consumerwatch: "It is difficult enough when you are working and have a mortgage to pay off. But we will never recover from this. It really has had a bad effect on us both."
The nightmare began when the couple received an unsolicited letter though the post claiming they had been successful on the Madrid-based Euro Millions International Promotions Programme. They were then inundated with calls by scamsters who persuaded them to part with close on 30,000 Euros (22,000).
The retired alarms engineer said he'd been forced to take a part-time job as a delivery driver to help the couple make ends meet.
"I was wanting to take it steady and enjoy my retirement," he said. "But all that has gone up in smoke now. We can't manage on our pensions alone."
The couple initially chose not to tell family about the scam but have since decided to reveal the full extent of their misery.
"They have been sympathetic with us but they think we have been fools which we have been. They have offered to lend us money but we just won't be able to afford to pay them back."
The couple admit they are struggling to look to the future with a positive outlook.
"It's not so rosy at the moment," said the husband. "If one of us was to die then the other wouldn't be able to keep the house and that keeps us awake at night.
"It is difficult but we keep reminding each other that there are a lot of people who are a lot worse off than us out there."
Legal aid helps more than 9,000 people in Leeds
THE number of Leeds people helped by civil legal aid has reached a record six-year high.
New figures from the Legal Services Commission (LSC) reveal more than 9,000 of the city's residents received legal aid help, up by eight per cent on last year.
Peter Nelson, regional director for the Legal Services Commission in Yorkshire, told Consumerwatch: "We have been able to ensure that more vulnerable people in our communities are able to access justice by making the best use of taxpayers' money provided to us. People who know and can act on their rights can play a fuller role in society.
"Throughout life, people often face a number of issues such as problems following a separation with a partner, debt or concerns with employment. We fund a number of providers to ensure people who need help in Leeds receive high quality advice."
The Legal Services Commission is sponsored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs with the key objective of providing accountable access to justice for all though publicly funded legal services.
It replaced the legal Aid Board in 2000.
Mr Nelson said he had been impressed with the willingness and commitment of law firms and agencies to do more for legal aid cases.
Partnership
"Working in partnership with such dedicated advice providers is essential for getting people the help they need," he added.
l People should contact CLS Direct on 0845 345 5 345 or log on at www.clsdirect.org.uk for details of solicitors and other advice agencies in Leeds who hold the Legal Services Commission's quality mark.
Are you smarter than cunning international prize-win fraudsters?
If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Take our quiz
The Yorkshire Evening Post's Consumerwatch desk has joined forces with the Office of Fair Trading to test readers' reaction to different scams.
If you suspect that what you are being offered is a scam, contact Consumer Direct Yorkshire & the Humber on 08454 04 05 06. Remember that no legitimate business would ever ask you to pay money to claim your prize.
1. A scratchcard drops through your letterbox. All you have to do to claim your prize is to ring the 090 number on the back of the ticket. How do you react?
A Ring up straight away. You can buy that wonderful car.
B You decide the chance of a big cash prize is worth the cost of the premium rate call.
C I'll spend my tenner on something useful.'
2. You receive a personal letter from Dorothy, a 'clairvoyant of international repute' .
She promises that she can break 'the chains of bad luck that bind you'. All you have to do is send off 19.99. How do you react?
A You don't want to be cursed so you send off a cheque.
B Check your horoscope first and then write out a cheque.
C Bin the letter and warn your family of the scam.
3. You get a message on your answerphone claiming you have won a Caribbean holiday. All you have to do is call the number. How do you react?
A You call them straight away.
B It sounds too good to be true, but you call anyway.
C Recognise that the number beginning with 090 is a premium rate number costing 1.50 per minute. You know you only win hard-to-use vouchers.
4. You receive an email out of the blue from General Paul Odabesi. After the recent coup in his homeland he has access to secret Government funds and needs to get $5 million out of the country.
In return for your bank account details plus an advance of 1,000 to bribe a bank official, he promises you 20 per cent of the cash. What do you do?
A Get onto the General with your bank details.
B Ask for more details.
C Delete the email after making your internet service provider aware.
5. You are desperate to lose weight. You see an advert for the Firm U Lighter diet supplement promising wonderful results for 50. How do you react?
A Sounds ideal so you buy three months' supply from the firm.
B Send off for one month's supply and see how it goes.
C Send the advert to the Advertising Standards Authority.
6. You receive an official call from a representative of the Canadian National Lottery saying you have won the $300,000 second prize in their international sweepstake promotion. All you have to do is send him one per cent of your winnings as an admin fee. What do you do?
A You send a money transfer order as requested.
B You ask for someone higher up to call you back.
C Put the phone down.You haven't bought a lottery ticket!
7. You come across a website tchnotif.com promising that if you buy a 10 flash drive, then you can get the latest mobile phone. How do you respond?
A Register your details and send off your tenner.
B Ask your best mate what he or she thinks, then go with the offer.
C Think 'this sounds dodgy' and ignore the website's claims.
8. Your friend invites you to a presentation at a posh hotel, where you are encouraged to hand over 2,000 to become part of an exclusive club to save money on holidays.
What do you do?
A Hand over a 2,000 cheque straight away.
B Stick around to hear what others are saying.
C Think 'this sounds like a thinly veiled pyramid selling scheme' and walk out.
9. You receive an email from your bank informing you that it is upgrading its software and that it needs you to click on the link and confirm your account and password details. What do you do?
A Click on the link and fill in the details.
B Call the bank to check it's legitimate.
C You recognise that this is a scam called 'phishing'.
10. You find a website asking you to send 30 for a pack to work at home. What do you do?
A You need the income so you send off for start-up pack.
B Decide it's well worth a try.
C Walk on by – the sales pitch sounds too good to be true.
HOW DID YOU SCORE?
Mostly A's – scam-bolic!
Unfortunately, there are lots of crafty scamsters out there keen to part you from your cash. So watch out and treat something for nothing offers with suspicion.
Mostly B's – scam-dalous!
You have a core of common sense and try to think things through. Butr when it comes to the crunch, you don't like to make too much of a fuss. So after asking a few polite questions, you fall for the scamster's crafty sting.
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Mostly C's – you're a scambuster!
Cool and calm, you won't be pushed into spur of the moment decisions. You know how many beans make five. People will have to get up very early in the morning to fool you.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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