Published at 09:44, Friday, 19 February 2010

IN the middle of a credit crunch it is fascinating that offers too good to be true come flooding in.

I have lost count of the number of holidays, cars and exciting opportunities have come my way.

All I have to do is ring a phone number or click on to a website to receive these riches beyond compare.

I can ignore any debt I may have as the smooth talking agent will take it all away. Phooey! Do they think I came down in the last shower?

The catch is in the small print. When the card tells you a million is yours check the cost of the call. You will spend ages pressing various buttons only to find you have won some vouchers and paid a small fortune to claim them.

Clicking on a website will probably give all your details to some thief in Nigeria or Russia who will then hack into your bank account.

The most irritating is when I answer a phone call some Darren, Sharon or Vicky already knows my name. The conversation swiftly moves on to offer me a new phone or a fortnight in Bermuda.

These calls always come as I am eating lunch or cooking my supper.

Initially I am polite in case it is a genuine call. Now I simply hang up as soon as the sales pitch kicks in.

I have stopped the junk mail and most of the nuisance stuff but somehow there is a new generation of cold callers ready to relieve the unaware of their money. Be careful out there.

Life is full of opportunity for good and ill

May we enjoy the gifts we possess in safety

Even when tired, vulnerable or confused

Help us protect our nearest and dearest.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk