OFT launches SMS scam awareness drive

Six per cent of SMS scam victims are aged between 15 and 24

The Office of Fair Trading has sent out thousands of fake text messages in a bid to raise awareness among 18 to 24 year-old mobile phone users of the latest scams.

The messages were sent on 15 February as part of Scams Awareness Month.

The first message read: 'Urgent! U may have won £1k cash with '2 Good 2 B True'. A second text explained that the message was part of a scam education exercise.

"Young people can fall for exactly the same types of scam as anyone else, often delivered through the latest technology," said Mike Haley, director of consumer protection at the OFT.

"We hope that our innovative approach of sending fake scam text messages will remind young consumers to be on their guard if they receive a suspicious offer. "

According to the OFT around six per cent of scam victims are aged between 15 and 24.

Scams Awareness Month is part of a wider international initiative organised by the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network.