BLAENAU Gwent Trading Standards officers have been visiting local residents after cash and cheques were seized from a PO Box address known to be used by scammers.

The money was intercepted by officers working in partnership with the National Scams Hub (NSH) which has also uncovered lists of potential Blaenau Gwent victims of scams.

Blaenau Gwent Trading Standards officers are visiting residents who may be affected.

The so-called 'sucker lists' contain details of vulnerable people who are likely to respond to scam mailings.

NSH gets its intelligence from a variety of sources, including names uncovered in the course of investigations and the names on seized mail.

NSH is a project funded by the National Trading Standards Board.

There are many types of scam, such as fake charities, lotteries, prize draws and catalogues offering cheaply made goods, or cakes and biscuits at exorbitant prices which offer a prize as its incentive.

Scam mail is sent for the sole purpose of obtaining money from people through deception.

After replying to a scam letter for the first time. the victim's details are put on the 'sucker list' and sold to criminals all over the world.

Victims are often silent and unaware they have been defrauded, often believing the prizes offered are genuine.

NSH has identified 183 people in Blaenau Gwent whose names are on the sucker lists .Trading Standards Officers are visiting these people to advise them how to identify scams and to obtain intelligence to help catch the people behind the scams.

Anyone who is concerned about a possible scam or worried about a friend or relative can contact Trading Standards via the Citizens' Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506 and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk