A PENSIONER has told how she was conned out of her life savings, after it was revealed hundreds like her are on a scammers’ hitlist.

The 85-year-old, from Summertown, who asked to remain anonymous, gave away nearly £20,000 to bogus callers in February.

At least 700 people in Oxfordshire have had their details discovered on one of several so-called 'suckers lists' used by criminals to target potential scam victims, most of whom are elderly and live alone.

The former book-keeper said: “One Sunday evening on February 6, I had a telephone call out of the blue.

“A young man said my name had been selected to go into a draw that evening. Where he got my name and number I have no idea.

“On Tuesday, February 10, he called and said I had won £110,000. I said ‘Goodness gracious me, that’s marvellous’.”


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Through February and March she was asked by a company called ‘Prizemaster’ – which is not registered on Companies House – to pay £4,500 to keep the money safe, and a further £15,000 to pay into a trust fund.

Both cheques were sent to an address in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, but no money was ever returned. Thames Valley Police’s Action Fraud team was notified.

The victim, who lives by herself, added: “I should have been much more suspicious but I have never dealt with people like that before. They say all the right things.

“My generation is trusting of people. We were brought up that way. I’m an elderly spinster and I live all by myself; perhaps that’s why I was targeted.

“It was my life savings and there doesn’t seem to be a way to get it back. I have no family to support me and wanted to move into a care home with that money. It seems incredible to me that there can be people in the world that make their money from this.”

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Oxfordshire Trading Standards community safety manager Richard Webb has revealed hundreds are on a so-called #suckers list'

Last month, investigations led by Trading Standards uncovered 13 lists bearing the names of 200,000 people in the UK deemed likely to fall for fake prize draws, competitions and special offers. Their names, phone numbers and addresses are then sold on to other scammers.

Oxfordshire Trading Standards community safety manager Richard Webb said: “We have checked the information with our systems, Thames Valley Police and adult social care, and over time we will be visiting people to see if they have been targeted.

“People are put on these lists, unfortunately called ‘suckers lists’ – effectively a mailing list of people susceptible to pressure sales or cold calling.

“Some of the original 700 have moved on or died but we were left with a fairly lengthy list, and new names are being identified over time.”

Every four to six weeks a new list of 15 to 20 names is sent to Oxfordshire Trading Standards from the national hub.

It is not known exactly how many listed people from Oxfordshire handed over money; the total amount lost by individuals has ranged from less than £10 to more than £30,000. Mr Webb added that of the first 100 investigated, 20 had responded to scams.

Rachelle Kennedy, a spokesperson for Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “Scams are a huge problem that show absolutely no sign of easing off.

“If anything, this is something that is going to get much worse over time as scams get more elaborate and opportunities to scam vulnerable older people increase.

“It is frightening that through these 'suckers lists', criminals know who might respond and where they are. We urge residents to be vigilant about scams themselves, but also to look out for relatives or neighbours who are vulnerable or isolated.”