Falkirk Council has warned residents to be aware the area has become a focus for fraudsters in recent weeks. Both householders and businesses are being targeted.

The most eye-catching scam currently circulating in towns across Falkirk is the 'Spanish Sweepstake Lottery'. A company called Correos tells readers that they have won approximately £1 million in the 'Loteria International Spanish Sweepstake Lottery'. In order to claim their prize, people are asked to provide their bank account details and signature to allow them to 'process an administration charge'.

Another prominent junk mail scam is operated by Gloucester based company Consulting Ltd. The company offers people a free gym membership, but in order to get the 'prize' people have to pay a compulsory 'maintenance fee' that over the contractual period (of at least one year) amounts to hundreds of pounds.

Local businesses are also being targeted by misleading adverts urging them to contact a hotline where they are urged to buy a business support manual for £250 – even though all the information is already freely available via a number of local and national government sources.

Consumer Protection Regulations

In May this year new consumer protection laws came into force banning sales practices such as describing a product as 'free' when it is in fact not and creating the false impression that consumers have won a prize.

A spokeswoman for Trading Standards, the body responsible for enforcing the so-called Consumer Protection Regulations, advised consumers to never give out sensitive personal details to a company you know nothing about: "They have no interest in helping you and they are simply out to take your money.

"Authorities often have difficulty in trying to recover anything on behalf of consumers as they are beyond UK law. However, Trading Standards officers work with the Office of Fair Trading to try and compile information on these scammers and we would urge anyone who think they are the victim of a scam to get in touch with us as soon as possible."

People who suspect they are being targeted by a scam are advised to contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.