Sheffield Council is searching for victims of an international scam so they can be paid their share of a multi-million pound payout following a landmark investigation.
A total of 22 people from Sheffield scammed by a Kansas, USA, based criminal enterprise are due compensation following a high-profile investigation.
Those affected in Sheffield are entitled to a share of more than £2,300 from a $25 million pay out.
Kaye Fox, interim principal officer at Sheffield Trading Standards, said: “Being scammed can have a huge emotional impact on victims and mail fraud represents a persistent threat particularly to vulnerable and elderly people.”
US fraudsters targeted UK households with scam mail offering a so-called “Next Gen” sweepstakes scheme with “guaranteed” cash prize pay-outs.
Tens of millions of deceptive personalised emails were sent to vulnerable people around the world between 2014 and 2017 asking them for an upfront fee ranging from £25 to £40. Many paid the fee several times before realising there was no prize. The highest individual losses in the UK ran into thousands of pounds.
A lengthy landmark investigation followed which saw National Trading Standards team up with the US Federal Trade Commission.
Action was taken in 2018 against the three individuals responsible and they forfeited $30 million in cash and assets – of this, $25 million was made available to…
