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Timmy1961

I recently got a phone call form [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] asking if I wanted to advertise with them. I thought it was for a good cause, so I went ahead with it. After spending £395 of my money, I did not see or receive any 'magazine'. And after repeated telephone calls with no answer, I decided to make other people aware on this forum of what a con they are. :mad:

I am furious, & I expect I will never see my advertisement or my money again.

Steer clear of these cowboys! - They are not who you think they are! - Use at your own peril! - They are a scam.

These are their websites to avoid:

[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

Has anybody else heard of this company, and had untoward dealings with them? I have contacted my local police authority and trading standards too. Is there anything else I can do? :think:

greyteam1959

These scams have been on the go for years !!!!!
'Hello I'm calling on behalf of the Police / Ambulance / Local Hospice / Sick Donkey Sanctuary etc etc etc'
How come you never got one before ???

InsideInsurance

I am also surprised that you've never had contact with these sorts of things before too.

I cannot comment on this particular organisation as I've never been interested in the cold callers to ask who they are as even if it were genuine its totally irrelevant to us. I've certainly heard from others, including those one here, most do find that they ultimately have their advert in the publications in question but both frequently claim problems with the ad (eg black & white rather than the colour agreed, miss proportioned image etc), massive delay in when it happens and little/ no response to the ads.

Timmy1961

I'm a new business, been running less than a year. Don't tell me there's more out there? I will have to become more vigilant. Even when I think I'm doing something for a good purpose, it turns out to be a scam. I can't do right for doing wrong!

jexygirl

timmy check out these threads and be appalled:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2530467
as you will see these people call on behalf of google and other companies, promising all sorts - 9 pages of people like you.

This one is more similar to yours https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1695311
only 5 pages of people conned on this one.

The moral - NEVER pay for anything or give your details to ANYONE over the phone EVER - regardless of how honest it may seem.

pitkin2020

Timmy1961 wrote: »

I'm a new business, been running less than a year. Don't tell me there's more out there? I will have to become more vigilant. Even when I think I'm doing something for a good purpose, it turns out to be a scam. I can't do right for doing wrong!

As harsh as this may sound "a fool is easily parted with his money", what checks did you do to verify this was a genuine company? Have you seen the publication yourself?

You need to ask these questions before ever parting with any money, they will do anything to get the sale there and then and may offer a great discount etc to seal the deal. If you intend to last in business you need to be more savvy and think things through before throwing cash away.

That probably sounds very harsh but if people actually took a moment to think things through they wouldn't let themselves get scammed so easily. Even if a recognisable company like yell cold call you for advertising would you still hand over credit card details without verifying who they are?? Remember you have just been cold called, you have no way of knowing who you are REALLY talking to?? It takes all of 30 seconds to google the company and get a telephone number, call and check.

If anything look at the positive of this experience, you have only lost £395 (granted thats enough) but it could have been far more and you have (hopefully) learnt a valuable lesson to check their credentials and how it will work for your business before parting with the cash.