IF you have been offered a large sum of money for doing nothing, or been offered a prize in a lottery you never entered, then now is the time to get your own back.

Bexley Council is working with the Office of Fair Trading in a national “Scamnesty” against the fraudsters who cost the UK an estimated £3.5b a year.

The scams can arrive by post, phone or email, offering people attractive benefits.

But to claim it, the recipient has to send a sum of money.

And the promised goods or money never arrive.

Often the target of the scams are elderly or vulnerable people.

Bexley is setting up eight Scamnesty bins around the borough from February 2 to February 15 so people can deposit any scams received through the post.

There will also be an email address to forward electronic scams.

All of them will be followed up, to gather information about the frauders and put a stop to the scam.

The bins can be found at Bostall, Blackfen, Northumberland Heath, Sidcup, Welling and Thamesmead libraries; the contact centre at Bexley civic offices and Care Partners Trust at 151 Crayford Road, Crayford.

The email address is ts.duty@bexley.gov.uk