Up to 20,000 people in Croydon are being duped by scam mail each year, the council’s lead member for safety and cohesion has said.

Croydon Council is calling for people targeted by fraudsters to fight back during a ‘Scamnesty’ scheme this February, by dropping suspicious letters into special bins around the borough.

Last year’s campaign revealed deceptive sweepstakes were the top mass-marketed scam mail affecting people in the UK, followed by misleading prize draws and offers from fake clairvoyants or psychics.

Councillor Gavin Barwell, cabinet member for safety and cohesion, said: “Based on the national figures we think that as many as 20,000 Croydon residents may fall victim to one scam or another every year.

“That’s a huge number of people and something we have to address.

“This campaign will help us to clamp down on some of those responsible.”

Suspected scam emails can be dropped in to a virtual bin at consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty, while regular mail can be reported on 08454 040 506.