Loneliness led woman to spend £35,000 on junk, so she could chat with delivery drivers

A LONELY 87-year-old woman ended up spending £35,000 with mail order and prize draw companies because she was desperate for contact with the outside world.

The pensioner used the deliveries as an opportunity to chat to postal workers and couriers as they dropped off the goods, which included “limited edition” products and clothing.

When Trading Standards officers at Leicestershire County Council were made aware of the “heartbreaking” situation, they found a spare room full of unopened parcels at the woman’s county home.

The woman’s spending means she now does not have enough money to pay towards the care she needs.

Once the pensioner began replying to offers she received via junk mail, she became identified by the senders as “vulnerable” and was bombarded with information about similar schemes in a process which has been described as “grooming”. The case is just one of many similar situations the county council team has found itself dealing with.

Caroline North, team leader for scams and doorstep crime at trading standards, said: “Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. We often come across similar cases and it’s heartbreaking to see.

“It’s frustrating, very sad, and we’re often left feeling angry that there are people out there targeting vulnerable individuals in this way.”

The woman, who lives alone, has not been identified. The council said it was unable to say how its trading standards team became aware plight.

Caroline added: “Quite often we see people are sent junk mail which offers them the chance to buy things for a certain price and includes entry into a prize draw.

“The flyers use phrases like ‘guaranteed prize’ and people send off for them thinking they have a chance.

“Some people use the word addiction, but I don’t think that’s quite what this is, it’s more like grooming.

“Companies send out this junk mail to people they know will respond. Once you’ve entered one competition or made one order, then it will just keep coming.”

Over the past financial year the council’s Trading Standards Scams Intervention Team has worked with the authority’s adults and communities department to support 200 victims of of her