HUNDREDS of international PO boxes, used to send out millions of scams, have been shut down in an operation initially begun by Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards.

Warwickshire trading standards officers compiled a list of 70 Dutch PO Box addresses being used to send out scam mail, including bogus clairvoyant letters and prize draw winner’s notifications.

The addresses were gathered primarily from the scam mail victims the service has supported, and supplied to the UK's national scams teams who worked with the United States Department of Justice and Dutch law enforcement.

The operation grew and resulted in 300 Dutch PO Boxes being closed, 178 of which were being used to receive cash directly from UK scam victims.

Eight premises were also raided and millions in assets were seized.

Warwickshire County Councillor John Horner, portfolio holder for community safety, said: “Trading standards officers have been working with UK postal services for a long time, identifying the victims of scam mail and taking action to prevent those very vulnerable people being scammed further.

"However, this is the first time that the service has been able to take the fight abroad, to those sending the scam mail out.”

For more on scams, and how to avoid them, visit warwickshire.gov.uk/scams.