Elderly warned over threat mail (From Penarth Times)

Elderly warned over threat mail

PENARTH pensioners are being urged to keep a watchful eye on their mail after a spate of threatening letters.

All the correspondence demanded payments and threatened harm to the recipients.

The Vale Council was made aware of the problem after an elderly lady from Cogan, who does not want to be identified, complained to a friend.

Her friend sent a letter to the local authority asking what could be done.

Vale Labour councillor, Paul Gray, said the elderly woman had received two unsolicited letters, the first asking for money and the second demanding money with a threat.

Mr Gray explained that the letters would be passed on to the council's Trading Standards Department.

He added that a relative of his, who lives in a local residential home, had also been subjected to this cruel correspondence.

She was sent unsolicited goods and shortly afterwards, a letter arrived threatening her with court action unless she paid the invoice. The woman maintains that she did not order anything from the company involved.

Mr Gray said it seemed that the elderly and vulnerable members of society were being targeted.

He advised anyone who receives such a letter to pass it on to Trading Standards immediately.

Age Concern information technician Phil Rushton said he had heard of pensioners complaining about bogus telephone calls, but not malicious mail.