Bogus advertising scam alert

The Royal Borough's trading standards team is warning of a current advertising scam aimed at small businesses - and is taking the opportunity to reinforce its advice to businesses to help increase awareness of such schemes.

Officers are highlighting the techniques used by scammers claiming to provide advertising space in publications to small businesses including:

• cold calling, by phone, e-mail, or in person
• using a name the same as or similar to a genuine business
• associating themselves with the police, health services or other public bodies including local authorities
• associating themselves with charities
• asking for immediate upfront payments up-front
• offering discounts for immediate agreement to buy advertising
• signing the business up to a direct debit which may be for a higher amount / a greater frequency than first appeared
• signing the business up to a long term contract which may be extremely costly.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said: "We know the majority of publishers are reputable, providing valuable advertising services to many businesses. However, a small minority will resort to dishonest tactics. I am always appalled by the levels to which these scammers will stoop to effectively steal businesses' money.

"Any business which has concerns or wants to check if an approach is genuine should contact the council's trading standards team on 01628 683800."

The advice from trading standards is never to sign an agreement with or pay money to an advertiser that you do not know or have not dealt with until:

• you have had a chance to do some simple background checks such as using an internet search engine
• the advertiser can provide proof of identity for its business and the salesperson that contacts you
• the advertiser has provided proof of the existence of previous publications referred to and can provide proof of contractual dealings with any business, service, charity or public body that they claim to be working with or to have worked with previously.

Further information on advertising scams is available on www.oft.gov.uk/business-advice/protect-your-business-from-scams/types/

How do you rate this information/service?