BEING on a fixed income pension it is all too easy to be dazzled by the persistent promise of instant riches offered by placing orders with certain mail order companies and that a cheque for thousands of pounds would shortly be forthcoming as a result. How gullible to believe that, I did.

After many such promises originating from Belgium, Ireland and various PO boxes in England, I contacted the Office of Fair Trading to be told that my comments would be noted, but such operations originating from Europe were beyond their jurisdiction.

If the postal address is only a PO box number and no telephone number is available, think twice before proceeding, because if the offer is too good to be true, it probably is!

JOHN RIDDETT, Southampton.