Competition scams are frauds which became prevalent during the late 20th century in which sophisticated, persuasive mailings are sent to people suggesting that the recipient is the winner of a prize, and requesting money from the recipient in order to release the valuable prize. Competition scams are generally operated from the USA, Canada and Australia and particularly target people in Britain, especially the elderly. The British office of fair trading in 2004 found more than 300 competition scams to be in operation, with each earning thousands of pounds each week from gullible and often naïve people from all walks of life and ages. They also discovered that the criminals operating the individual frauds exchange information and that a recipient responding favourably to one scam would subsequently be targeted by many others also, the recipients name and address being added to a special mailing list called by the perpetrators of the frauds a 'sucker list'. Research Competition Scam
The Department of Trade and Industry is the British government department responsible for: international trade policy; the promotion of exports (under the direction of the British Overseas Trade Board); industrial policy; competition policy and consumer protection, including relations with the Office of Fair Trading and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; policy on scientific research and development; company legislation and the Companies Registration Office; patents and the Patent Office; the insolvency service; and the regulation of the insurance industry. Research Department of Trade and Industry
The Office of Fair Trading is a British government department that, under the Director General of Fair Trading, reviews commercial activities in the UK and aims to protect the consumer against unfair practices. Established in 1973, it is responsible for the administration of the Fair Trading Act (1973) , the Consumer Credit Act (1974), the Restrictive Trade Practices Act (1976), the Estate Agents Act (1979), the Competition Act (1980), and the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations (1988). Its five main areas of activity are: consumer affairs, consumer credit, monopolies and mergers, restrictive trade practices, and anti-competitive practices. Research Office of Fair Trading
OFT is an abbreviation for Operational Right Trainer
OFT is an abbreviation for Orbital Right Test
OFT is an abbreviation for Office of Fair Trading Research OFT
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Competition Scam
