Advertising [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

kerryp11

I've had a phone call to my mobile from somebody from the "Metropolitan Police" today, "nothing to worry about" they tell you trying to make themselves more convincing! "we're working alongside the police" he said, but then when I asked if he was actually with the metropolitan police he said "yes". Contradiciting in itself, he's either one of them or he's working alongside them. Make your mind up!!
Anyway, I had a call from these people two or three years ago, had the artwork sent to me after receiving a phone call from his mate who was obviously sat across the room from him when they originally rang but realised before receiving the artwork what was going on. I sent the artwork back along with a stern letter telling them that I'd found out that they did not work alongside the police with regard to the magazine and that I would not be taking the advert out with them and never would.
I never heard from them again until today, needless to say after telling them that I'd had phone calls from people saying similar things before and then finding out that all was not what it seemed, he still carried on with his speel but didn't put up any sort of fight when I said I wasn't interested!
I wonder why?!!!
I'm afraid people like this have made me wary of ANYBODY phoning and asking me to place an advert anywhere!!

codger

I've just posted on the thread about the West Midlands Press scam so will repeat it here if it's of help:

As a lot of people simply aren't media aware, or have much if any understanding of how an ad agency works (by which I mean, always regard yourself as an ad agency if you ever receive a cold-call from someone purporting to represent a newspaper or magazine) here's the procedure:

1) Thank the caller for getting in contact;

2) Ask for the Rate Card (this lists the display, semi-display, and classified advertisement rates as well as premium charges for special positioning like I/S/F (inside front cover) and DPS (double page spread);

3) Ask for two (2) copies of the publication, two different issues of different dates (you can say that one is for filing, the other is for your Marketing Director);

4) ask for the Rate Card and copies of the two separate issues of the newspaper, magazine or other class of publication to be sent to you by post;

5) Tell the caller you do not book any advertising with any media, anywhere, until you / your company has received all the above by postal mail.

(Point out that you do NOT accept anything via email because you ain't stupid: reputable newspapers and magazines always deal in hard copy print-outs whereas criminal fraudsters create "newspapers" and/or "magazines" in cyberspace. . . and then email 'em out as if they're real.

It's actually very simple. Very straightforward. I ran a major ad agency for years so I'm well acquainted with standard practice.

If the steps above are followed -- doesn't matter whether it's a newspaper or magazine for a general audience, or a bunch of fraudsters trying to con you into falling for the charity / emergency services publication scam -- there wouldn't be a fraudster of this kind anywhere in business in the UK today.

Come on, people. Time to put all these swine out of business!

guidarufino

Well it's been 3 weeks since I sent the letter and I haven't heard a peep from the scammers. So bear this in mind people. A sternly worded letter telling them that you're onto them is enough to make them go away. :T

Oopsadaisy

guidarufino wrote: »

Well it's been 3 weeks since I sent the letter and I haven't heard a peep from the scammers. So bear this in mind people. A sternly worded letter telling them that you're onto them is enough to make them go away. :T

Wrong, wrong, wrong.................wrong.

guidarufino

Oopsadaisy wrote: »

Wrong, wrong, wrong.................wrong.

Explain please!

trumpton

This is such a widespread scam, but one which many people fall for because of the threat of legal action. Here's a couple of companies who have been shut by the DTI last year:

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=416161&SubjectId=16&AdvancedSearch=true

An additional part of the scam is that the 'debt collector' who chases up the fake invoice is controlled/owned by the original scammers as well. I would report to the police personally, as I expect they have a fraud team interested.

Good to see that 2 of the scammers were jailed. I look forward to more dodgy directors going to prison.

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/10/two-jailed---at-last---for-the.html

Oopsadaisy

trumpton wrote: »

I look forward to more dodgy directors going to prison.

Dream on....the convictions in the article are truly the execption rather than the rule.

It's probably taken about 5 years and several hundred thousand to get these two sent down....so believe me when I say that TS etc will be in no rush to tackle others.

There are hundreds of scammers all working in the L'pool-Manc-Chester triangle that is Charity Wallplanner Scam central; they just 'burn' their ltd cos every 6 months to stay ahead of TS etc.

Thye work the same as clampers.....they claim it's a legitimate debt and they chase it as such...just same as BT etc. The plod say 'it's a civil matter, sir' so the firms are free to intimidate as much as they want since they run very little chance of being caught out.

wilcoxplumbing

I have had trouble with bcs I agreed to this offer which seemed to good to be true I just wish I'd seen this before I have been asked for £100 for an advert which was supposed to be distributed around the local area ( none have been seen) and I was supposed to be the only company of my type in this mag (2 including me were in it) that I am told by trading standards is a breach of the contract which I sent them a letter stating I was cancelling my order on those grounds since then I have ignored numerous phone calls from bcs and now cf&l who want £850 how ever they rang today to try reach an agreement after they sent a letter threatening legal action I will not be sending a penny as this is a blatant scam the same guy from bcs is ringing from cf&l and the same whining scouse women kept ringing from bcs they bcs & cf&l use the same crappy paper and font page layout as each other. It's just a scare scam and if they take me to court I will be going all guns blazing if possible can people p/m me if I could use your story's if it does go to court as I want to get these low lifes laughed out of court back to there **** holes to look for a real job

Oopsadaisy

It won't go to court.

wilcoxplumbing

Well there's a chance they could could be a first but I want to be ready for them if they do so preparation is key, I've pretty much ignored there calls so have a catalogue of voicemail messages from 'Daniel' from cf&l and a fair few from 'laura' from bcs scamit media which has either !!!!ed them off or know there's no way of getting a penny