Charity and Police Magazine Advertising SCAMS - Govt

Blood boils just thinking about how many people would have capitulated at that call 

Sooner we ban cold calling and spam texts about last years accident that i didnt have, or miss-sold PPI the better

I can't believe this scam still continues. This thread started in 2011, you would think by now they would all be closed down, but new ones spring up showing that there is easy money to be made and too many people pay up and fall for it.

There's little Trading Standards can do who are now stretched to the maximum, plus in reality these scams disappear then re-appear.

Just got to keep educating new business owners. Maybe it should be emblazoned on new shiny incorporation certificates, beware of charity and emergency service magazine scams!

It's up there with the evil of those who call new businesses proporting to be from the Electric / Gas companies, to 'Switch' you on to their supply. They realise you've just moved in, you're just sorting out the Electric from the landlord, you've got a new number, so they call, and fake you into believing they are from the current supplier calling to change details.

10 mins later, your in a contract with a supplier via some scroat you've never heard of.

Would you believe it, actually had someone trying to catch us out again 

So bad new is these ropey Charity Magazine scams are alive and well.

Latest one: Child Protection UK Ltd (company number 5346299)

Very polite and professional young lady asking for me. Confirming that the recent campaign of childrens education books I was interested in participating in has been a great success and do I have a school in particular I would like to send some books to.

Here we go again, pretty much the same patter I had about 5 or 6 years ago, looks like nothing has changed! Keep her talking get the company number, company name, get googling. As expected lots of forum results of people worried about being scammed and chased for money.

Keeping it all nice and polite, express a little confusion over previous contact as I can't remember. But we spoke to you back in September and you expressed an interest.

Really? I don't remember. "Well it was on Sep 12th at 10.32". Ahh fantastic, in that case can you send me a recording of the call you made?

"Well you haven't made a commitment, this is just to inform you of the campaign..." back peddle back peddle...

So I wont be receiving an invoice then will I?

Then some friendly banter that we are fully aware of charity mag scams, obviously profuse denial that they are the same, and shock and horror that this practice goes on, making it harder for reputable companies to succeed.... yawn, even the same rebuffs from 5 or 6 years ago, must be using the same script

Allegedly I'm off the contact list, time will tell. No doubt we'll get an invoice, in which case I shall publish it on the thread 

Just had the same type of scammer on the phone, they nust constantly troll through new advertisers. Liverpool accent, offering the "Vanguard" magazine for Police, Fire Brigade & Ambulance crews. starts with the spiel he's from the Gloucester Police Authority, but "not to worry" I wasn't in trouble, it was nothing to do with fly tipping or speeding? ...No I wasn't worried!

Promises loads of work from Police, Fire Brigade & ambulance staff, I will be the only advertiser. Then gets rapidly to cost, £495 for ful page, £295 for 1/2 page, £195 for 1/4 page. I engage him with some banter and he says he will get "Rick from Unity Print" to call me back. Asks for my website & email (where did he get my number from?) A few minutes later a  Liverpool landline number shows on screen. Didn't answer and came here.

Unfortunately for them, both numbers displayed, the initial mobile call number is 07941 then 361 then 162 and the landline number is 0151 then 709 then 0784 I am now going to forward these via Twitter & Facebook networks with a link from my website warning people of scam callers. 

These scams have been doing the rounds for years and just keep preying on fresh advertisers & start-ups, so it must make it worth their while. Don't fall for it people. (way to add phone numbers is as above, break number down and insert a word between!) I strarted getting these calls once I had registered with Freeindex, Scoot and Yell, they are obviously trawling through the new advertising additions.

Unfortunately directories have tended to be a good hunting ground  for these scumbags

A long long time ago, we used to show off new members who just joined on our home page, then realised we were inadvertently subjecting them to marketing spam and scams. So we quickly removed all reference to new business listings.

Unfortunately a lot of directories even now still showcase or display a list of new members, which is eagerly hoovered up by the unscrupulous

Hi, I am new to this forum. I got a call this afternoon from someone on an unknown number who claimed to be from a magazine called Convention or Prevention or something like that and they said they were a charity. They said they had previously called me in November and I had agreed to this magazine which I hadn't! I told them I wasn't interested but she said they were going to send 94 magazines and I would have to pay £99 in 21 days. I told her I wasn't interested but she wouldn't take no for an answer so I put the phone down as I was getting angry! I now wish I hadn't as I'm worried that they will send me the magazines and bill or just the bill!

Has anyone else had someone like this?

It's a scam. Ignore them. If they threaten you tell them you will report them to the Police. If they send you any nasty letters, feel free to let us know and we will name and shame!

Never ever, ever, ever agree to anything from a cold call. Never be bullied into thinking you have agreed anything.

If they keep phoning you, ask them to send you a transcript or recording of the sales call where you "agreed to the sale", as you require this so you can send to Trading Standards. That should stop it.

Let us know how you get on.

Got advised of a new one this morning. Got a heads up as it came from someone we are working with and the scam company claimed the details had come from a web site we are currently working on!

The site in question is still in development and isn't live which is why we knew straight away it was a scam.

Scam company originated in Manchester, the hotbed of these cons. Seems now they are targeting builders and plumbers with promises of guaranteed work by taking out an advert in a Council Tenders magazine!

So we've passed all the details onto Trading Standards who will liaise with their Manchester colleagues