What is the latest information on mail scams targeting vulnerable groups in our community?
Ms DIANE BEAMER: Scams are one of the scourges of our community. Thousands of individuals and companies are scammed each year. Fair Trading investigators are constantly busting scams, prosecuting the operators, and seizing and destroying poisonous pen letters. Fair Trading scored a considerable win over the famous David Rhodes of Perth scam, a chain letter that encouraged people to send $10 to a person named at the top of the list, then send 200 copies of the letter with their name on the list. Hey, presto! Eventually people supposedly would receive a flood of letters in reply, each containing $10. The scheme promised up to $76,000. Working with Australia Post, the Office of Fair Trading confiscated and destroyed more than 600,000 letters—600,000 letters that did not reach their target. Scams, especially mail scams, mostly target the vulnerable—those in need and the elderly. Scams come in all shapes and sizes. Just this week the Parliament passed legislation outlawing false billing. Su
