A dossier from the Nottingham Evening Post’s Fair ‘n’ Square campaign has been handed to the Government.

Editor Graham Glen was invited to Whitehall to hand over a collection of articles from the newspaper to Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

Over the past 12 months the newspaper has been highlighting the problem of conmen and tricksters who are targeting vulnerable consumers, and has published a string of stories about people who have fallen victim to scams, such as the Notts family who lost more than £100,000 in a notorious international banking scam.

The paper has also told of letters sent by clairvoyants demanding cash to remove a devil’s curse, and the cowboy workers who charged £10,000 to repair a drive – a job that should have cost about £40.

On receiving the dossier, the Trade and Industry Secretary praised the paper’s campaign and said by raising awareness it could be helping to scare off con artists while encouraging victims to come forward with evidence.

She also said the issues raised by the Post could help mould her department’s policy as attempts were made to close loopholes in the law.

Editor Graham said he was delighted the Government was taking on board the Post’s crusade.

He said: “So many of our readers have come to us with stories of how individuals or companies are trying to trick them.

“By handing over this dossier of our stories, we are hoping the Government will take further steps to protect consumers from fraudsters who are only out to make easy money by preying on vulnerable people.”

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