Businesses in Stone are being warned about scams where they are offered advertising in fake or non-existent publications.
Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards team has received calls from concerned businesses which have been offered advertising by callers who say they are acting on behalf of a charity, school or public sector organisation.
Sometimes the caller will tell the business it has already agreed to take out advertising or has done so in previous years. Businesses may agree to the advertisements, believing the publication to be genuine. Usually, the publication is never produced or a very small number printed without the knowledge or consent of the organisation that is supposedly represented.
Pat Corfield, Cabinet member for Culture, Communities and Customers, said: “We are urging Staffordshire businesses to be vigilant and inform employees not to agree to anything they are unsure about either over the phone or by post. Where there is any doubt at all, employees should end the call and make sure they do not sign any paperwork. Anyone with concerns should contact our Business Advice Line on 0845 330 3313.”
5 comments
Richard Stevens
However, if you get a call from Jane Walters of Times Echo and Life Publications about advertising in the Food and Drink Festival programme, it’s GENUINE!! Jane is already taking enquiries on 01538 752214 for this year’s programme and does so with the Festival’s consent. Deadline for advertisements is August 1st and 37,000 copies will be delivered to selected areas of Staffordshire and surrounding areas.
Jamie Summerfield
Ha! Must give Jane a call about advertising A Little Bit of Stone in there. I did loads of pics and reports last year – planning to do a lot more this year!!
Pippa
I had a call similar to those above, my suspicions were aroused by the fact I’d only been in the area about a month, yet they were targetting me to advertise as a local business????
Luckily I couldn’t talk much as I was on the school run and running late as usual, how they never called back. Thanks for the heads up.
Jamie Summerfield
Hi Pippa. Sounds like you had a lucky escape