Mass marketing fraud

Mass marketing fraudsters try to dupe victims with false promises of large cash prizes, goods or services in exchange for upfront fees, or what they call 'taxes' or 'donations'.

Mass marketing scams are also known as consumer fraud. They could involve:

• Someone pretending to sell something they don’t have. The fraudster takes your money without you receiving anything in return for it.
• A fraudster supplying goods or services which are of a lower quality than those paid for, or failing to supply the goods and service bought altogether.
• Someone trying to persuade you to buy something you don’t really want using oppressive marketing or sales techniques.

Common mass-marketing scams include:

• Marketing materials

Marketing materials such as brochures can be produced to enable fraud.

Marketing materials or activities, eg investment seminars, are commonly used in connection with purchases such as high value goods, stocks and shares, and property.

The materials can deliberately misrepresent returns on investment, which is a type of investment fraud.

• Mail boxes and multiple post redirections

Legitimate mail services, such as the use of mailboxes and post redirections, can be used to enable fraud.

For example, mail boxes could be established solely for the use of fraudsters. Multiple post redirections could be used in application frauds.

Other common mass-marketing scams include:

• Foreign lotteries and sweepstakes
• 419 letter scams
• Charity scams
• Romance scams
• Boiler room or share sale fraud

What should you do?

If you think you’ve been a victim of a mass-marketing scam, contact Report Fraud by filling out our online fraud reporting tool. Alternatively, call us on 0300 123 2040.