Bromley Trading Standards is advising residents to be cautious about postal scams and to send unwanted scam mail to the National Trading Standards Scams Team to help stop postal scams.
Scam mail can have serious consequences, including financial consequences, if people respond to them. The Friends Against Scams Team is running their SCAMnesty (scam mail amnesty) campaign, encouraging UK residents to send unwanted scam mail to the National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team for investigation. Submitted scam letters can help the NTS Scams Team to track fraudsters and protect others from falling victim to postal scams. The campaign is running throughout Summer 2025, but scam mail can be posted to the team anytime.
Postal scams (or scam mail) are fraudulent letters designed to deceive people into sending money. These scams often target older and vulnerable individuals, promising prizes, health cures, or personal predictions in exchange for payment.
How to send scam mail
Simply place scam mail in an envelope with the freepost address:
FREEPOST,
NTSST,
MAIL MARSHALLS
Drop it in any post box - it's completely free.
Learn more about the Friends Against Scams SCAMnesty campaign.
Common types of scam mail
Scam mail often includes false promises and pressure tactics to get you to part with your money. Examples include:
- Fake lottery and prize draws: Claiming you've won money in a lottery you never entered, asking you to pay a fee upfront, and pressuring you to act quickly.
- Bogus psychics: Promising good fortune, offering charms or trinkets for payment, and using emotional manipulation.
- Fraudulent health cures: Advertising miracle treatments with exaggerated claims like "burns thousands of calories a day" or "reduces blood pressure overnight."
- Advance fee scams: Requesting urgent payment in exchange for a supposed financial windfall, often using official-looking stamps and certificates to appear credible.
Protect yourself
Do not respond to suspicious letters - it can encourage further contact. Stay informed and learn how to spot postal fraud by visiting the Government website.
Let’s work together to keep Bromley safe from scams.
Report and information
Call 159 to speak directly to your bank 159 - Stop Scams UK.
Report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or on the Action Fraud website.
Contact Citizens Advice for help and advice on 0808 223 1133 or on the Citizens Advice website.
If you have been tricked into sending money by bank payment, check out the Toolkit and UK Finance Authorised Push Payment Fraud guidance for more information on recovering lost money.
For general information about scams in various languages visit the Friends Against Scams website.
You can also visit the Trading Standards page on our website for more information.
Bromley Trading Standards
To keep up with the latest scam alerts and warnings from Bromley Trading Standards sign up on www.bromley.gov.uk/TradingStandardsAlertSignUpForm.
Bromley Trading Standards also runs a fair-trader directory to help you find a safe, reliable trader that you can trust, visit www.bromley.gov.uk/tradingstandardschecked to learn more.