Lancashire residents have been praised for their help in the fight against con-artists as ‘Scamnesty’ month comes to an end.

The national initiative has been used to raise awareness of the methods used by rogues seeking to make a quick profit from unsuspecting individuals. People from the county handed over hundreds of scam flyers in less than a month which will now be analysed by Trading Standards officers.

Bulging collection boxes from Lancashire’s libraries and information centres are now being opened and their contents investigated. County Councillor Jean Battle, Cabinet member for community planning and partnerships, said: “Our residents have handed over details of scams old and new and I would like to thank everyone for their vigilance throughout February.

“Although criminals are now using modern technology such as text messaging and email to try to con people there is always a common theme – they are after your money. That is why everyone needs to think before they respond to unsolicited letters and emails. The publicity in the local media has resulted in lots of people looking twice at what comes through their doors and challenging the ‘get rich quick’ claims that are made.

“In fact one man from East Lancashire passed 300 scam letters to us that he has received and the fact that he came to us is very encouraging. However the reason why he received so many is that he had replied to one in the past and handed over money. It is no coincidence that we received information on scams that have been running for many years – it is the fact that people continue to fall for them that makes them so attractive to scam operators.”

Some examples of the low entry value scams reported are:

• Guaranteed 1st prize of $4,000,000 in Australian weekly draw by sending in £25

• Final Stage winner in El Gordo Spanish lottery for £10 fee

• Luck, money and happiness predictions for £29 fee to a Swiss parapsychologist

• £23,000 Land Rover for £25 from a US marketing company

• £15 for a "spatio temporal stabilization compass.

While some seem totally implausible the scammer carefully targets customers to their weakness and vulnerability. Julian Edwards from Trading Standards explained: “Scammers build up lists of people who have responded to requests for cash in the past as a way of targeting their approaches. These lists are sold an exchanged with other rogues and so individuals often start to get deluged with scam letters and flyers.

“But, thanks to the help of Lancashire people, The Office of Fair Trading and Trading Standards are now significantly adding to their own list of scams and scammers.”

Although Scamnesty month is drawing to a close, people can still report a scam via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.