OAP's scam warning
A LURGAN pensioner has sent out a warning to vulnerable folk after he was the target of a dodgy marketing campaign.
The 87-year-old almost 'jumped for joy' when he received a letter in the post to tell him he had won 20,500 from a shopping company.
However, he soon realised his luck was out when the expiry date for claiming the prize had already passed.
And then when he told his 90-year-old sister, she told him she had received the same notification.
"I wonder how many people have won exactly 20,500 from these people across Lurgan," said the man.
"It's obviously something to get you hooked in, they said it was sent out from down south and I had five days to respond, but I received it almost two weeks after the closing date.
"I was raging, because I thought it might be genuine, but when I told my sister, she said she got the same letter.
"It was very authentic looking and even signed off by people to make you think it was the real deal."
The notification from Star Shopping, which states a PO box in Dublin as an address, includes phrases like 'without the slightest doubt you have won'.
The pensioner added: "I have used companies like this before to order goods - although I am not sure if I have used Star Shopping.
"The goods I have ordered have always been good and if they need returned then it is easy enough.
"My sister would order from these companies, she's in a home and for her they are a way for her to keep in touch with the outside world - but this has put me right off ordering anything again."
The 'MAIL' contacted Star Shopping and was told that the competition or the prize could not be discussed over the phone and must be put in writing to the PO Box number.
The man said the company was based in Dublin, but could not say exactly where because of 'management instructions'.
A recent investigation by the Guardian newspaper listed Star Shopping as firms to 'beware of'.
It said the company targeted the elderly and it's location could not be traced.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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