Clairvoyant 'sick scam' (From Stroud News and Journal)

Clairvoyant 'sick scam'

AGE Concern is urging Gloucestershire pensioners to ignore a chilling clairvoyant scam letter which is currently doing the rounds in the county.

The charity is concerned that fraudsters, who make an estimated £1 billion a year by preying on the vulnerable and gullible have plumbed new depths in this threatening scam.

The letters, which are personally addressed to recipients, claim a silent occult threat is hanging over them which can only be removed by sending money.

It reads: 'Without my rapid intervention, the obscure and destructive phenomenon, resurging from your past in order to cause you harm, could quickly achieve its end.

'My feelings are palpable, this occult force is plotting against you, it is determined to destroy you, to do you harm."

Now Age Concern wants anyone who receives one of these letters consign to throw it in the rubbish bin immediately.

ACG Senior Manager Linda Shepherd said: "This is a particularly menacing letter, which as ridiculous as it seems to most of us may still upset some people enough for them to send money to put their minds at rest.

"We can't urge people strongly enough to ignore these letters. Despite their personal approach they are nothing but a sick scam."

"These scammers get information from mailing lists, so we would advise people to make use of the Mail Preference Service, a free service which ensures unsolicited mail will not be sent to your address."

The MPS can be accessed online at www.mpsonline.org.uk or by calling 0845 703 4599.

If you or someone you know receive a similar letter telephone ACG on (01452) 422660 or contact your local Trading Standards office.