AN 81-year-old grandmother-of-five who spent over £3,000 on “devilish” mail-order scams is warning other people not to become a victim of fraudsters.

The victim, who does not want to be named, realised after five months that she was being scammed and contacted Essex Trading Standards, who are now investigating the case.

“I just feel so ridiculous and so stupid and I’ve lost a lot of money I couldn’t afford. I think: ‘How and why did I do it? How did I get caught in it?’ It’s like a spider’s web. It’s like a one-way track. It’s devilish,” she said.

“I would like to warn other people not to fall into the same trap that I did.”

Councillor Roger Walters, who leaders on trading standards, said: “These mail scams typically sell over-priced goods such as confectionery and skin products.

“They send numerous letters, often telling you you’ve won a big prize in a draw which you can claim by buying something else. They claim to offer free gifts, but often use your bank details to get payments before dispatching any items.

“Our advice is never to enter these prize draws or pay to receive “free” gifts. If you think you are a victim of a scam, then contact Trading Standards. We will be able to help you.”

The scam started when she ordered some biscuits from one catalogue. She was then bombarded with post from three other companies, inviting her to enter prize draws for up to £148,000, enticing her with so-called free gifts which she ended up paying for.

She was made to pay for orders before they were dispatched. She realised something was wrong when money was taken from her account for a watch and other goods that she had not ordered.

She was receiving several letters a day at her home in Coggeshall. She received numerous parcels containing items she had paid for but not ordered including face creams, soaps, vitamins and accessories.

Essex Trading Standards and the victim’s bank are working to help her recover some of the money she spent and have advised her not to respond to any more letters or calls from the scam companies.

Essex Trading Standards officers are still working their way through a list of about 3,000 names they were given in the summer of people on a so-called “suckers list” held by scammers, visiting the most vulnerable.

Anyone who thinks they may have responded to a scam or is worried about a friend or relative can call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 040506.