YORK'S cold-calling zones are proving a major success, with two thirds of affected residents saying they are working, according to a new report.

The zones were set up to fight against bogus salesman and unwanted door-to-door vendors, and a recent survey shows people across the city feel they are working.

Asked what impact the zones had had, 66 per cent of residents said they were now less concerned about doorstep crime than before their zone was set up.

And the report to councillors says there have been no cases of doorstep crime in any of the zones since they were launched.

Ann Reid, City of York Council's executive member for neighbourhood services, said: "Clearly these zones discourage cold callers and high-pressure salesmen from visiting streets, but if they do residents have the confidence to actually say "no" to them on the doorstep."

There are currently 18 cold-calling zones in York. Since they were launched, there have been 29 complaints about cold callers in the zones, but all residents said they felt able to deal with the incident effectively.

While the cold-calling zones are proving a success though, council bosses have warned residents to be on their guard against postal and email fraudsters.

Trading standards officials say they are coming across increasingly inventive scams, and have urged people to be alert.

Colin Rumford, the council's head of environmental health and trading standards, said: "Scammers are becoming very sophisticated about the way they contact people and fake foreign lottery scams are still one of the key ways in which fraudsters try to con people out of money.

"In such cases, consumers receive a letter, phone call or email stating that they have won a major payout and are asked to respond with money for administration costs, taxes and bank account details. Needless to say the winnings are never received.

"To add insult to injury, those who do respond can be sure their details will be circulated to other scammers', ensuring they will be inundated with further opportunities' to win a prize."

He said the latest version of the scam was an email advising recipients they had won a major prize through a computer ballot.

Since the Spanish lottery awards' are now relatively well known, this version uses a UK contact address but purports to be sent from Japan.

Mr Rumford said: "Be sceptical. Is it likely someone you don't know has contacted you to give you something for nothing? Don't send any money or give personal details to anyone until you've checked them out.

"If you're in any doubt, tell trading standards so we can liaise with the Office of Fair Trading and the police to stop the fraud."

Anyone who thinks they have been the victim of a scam should phone Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.