Warning for Wairarapa elderly

CONCERN: A Masterton woman wants to warn pensioners to be cautious after she was conned by a postal scam. Displayed are some of the hundreds of letters she has received promising false prizes. PHOTO/ALISA YONG

An elderly Masterton woman caught out by a postal scam is warning other pensioners not to be lured by false prizes and competitions.

The 83-year-old woman, who was too embarrassed to provide her name, has received as many as 15 unwanted letters a day for the past five months.

She said she regretted responding to the first scam letter she received.

"How it started was, I got a pamphlet that said 'have a go and you don't know what you might win' - and I'm curious, so that's when it all started."

She was intrigued by the offer and sent back $10, although she did not disclose her bank account details.

After sending in the $10 she received nothing back, only more letters claiming to offer prizes and rewards.

The letters came from different companies from around the world and usually involved sending money to claim a cash prize.

Since then, she has been inundated with hundreds of false lottery and competition letters.

Other pensioners needed to be warned not to be fooled by the tempting competitions and fancy packaging, she said.

"It's the way they tell you. They look very interesting so you can't help opening them. Why wouldn't you? They are all very glamorous."

Elderly people living alone were especially vulnerable, she said.

"When you are on your own you think it must be something important.

"Pensioners are honest and they believe [it]. They have been brought up that way, and I was too."

Most of the letters came with a time limit to reply, forcing people to act quickly, she said.

"Everything is a scam, and you get nothing at the end of the day."

The Times-Age has also received complaints about similar letters which ask people to order a product from a catalogue in order to claim a prize.

A representative for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said seniors were more likely to fall prey to these types of scams.

"We advise people to discard of the mail and not respond. The scam usually tells you that you have won a prize and directs you to an organisation to claim your winnings. The scammer then asks you to pay some money to claim the prize.

"Do not contact any organisations mentioned in the brochure or in any accompanying letter."

Such letters were not illegal but people should contact Consumer Affairs, she said.

A volunteer at the Masterton Citizens Advice Bureau said they had received several enquiries about mail scams in the past week.

"We are advising people not to be alarmed by it, but just bin it basically."

"Don't do anything until you have talked to someone else."

The letters seemed to be targeted at the elderly, who tended to be more trusting.

The Times-Age has also been advised the Spark scam is still in operation. Fraudsters claiming to be calling from Spark (formerly Telecom) tell customers there is something wrong with their computer in order to gain access to banking information.

The call may be from an overseas number or from a private, blocked number.

Netsafe, which records scam data, reported New Zealanders lost $1.3 million to scammers in September alone.

-Anyone wishing to report a scam can contact Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/scams/report-a-scam or call 04 474 2750.