PEOPLE are being warned about postal scams that offer the world and usually lead to nothing.

Stockton Consumer Support Network has launched a campaign to raise awareness about unscrupulous mail cons, as part of a ten-week campaign to safeguard people's money and bank details.

The network is asking people to drop unsolicited mail and postal offers into bins set up across Stockton so they can be investigated.

Ian Bartlett, the manager of Stockton Advice and Information Service, said: "The unsuspecting consumer can come across such mailings of this type on a regular basis.

"They can fall victim to the scam and part with their money in good faith, to find they have been conned.

"We need to make the consumers aware of such scams operating and make them confident in saying 'no' to such malicious mailings."

The network has joined the information Service, Trading Standards, Stockton Shop Mobility, The Five Lamps Oganisation, Stockton Blind People's Voice and Age Concern Teesside, for the campaign.

The campaign warns people to be wary of unsolicited letters, those asking people to call or fax a premium fax number, requests for personal information such as bank account details and if told to respond immediately.

Mr Bartlett said: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

The bins will be at the advice and information service, in Bath Lane; Stockton library, in Church Lane; the Shop Mobility centre, in the High Street, and the Five Lamps centre, in Eldon Street, Thornaby.