Police and council target scam artists - Girdlestone estate pensioners hand in hundreds of con letters

Published: 11 February 2011
by TERRY MESSENGER

PENSIONERS on Archway’s Girdlestone estate have handed in dozens of letters from suspected con artists for investigation.

The letters were given to police and Islington Council trading standards officials at a meeting with the Third Age group on the estate in Anatola Road.

The exercise was part of a joint police and council drive against scam communications – which typically promise unclaimed inheritances, lottery winnings and prize draw gifts.

Sergeant Don Simpson, from Junction Safer Neighbourhoods police team, said: “We have been giving vulnerable residents advice about junk mail scams to raise awareness of the issue. 

“Sent by professional fraudsters, these letters or flyers are designed to con recipients into investing in bogus schemes such as fake lotteries, share frauds and inheritance scams.”

Other Islington residents wishing to pass on suspect letters can do so via “scam letter collection boxes” at: the council’s Municipal Offices, 222 Upper Street, Islington; Central Library, Fieldway Crescent, Holloway; Archway Library at Archway Junction; Finsbury Library, St John Street, Finsbury; and Mildmay Library, Midlmay Park, Islington.