Advertising Scams - Just in case you're just starting out

[SparkyChick]

I suspect many of those who are self employed will have already heard about these, but for all those starting out he's a cautionary tale.

I got a call yesterday from a magazine, supposedly the magazine of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service which is apparently distributed to members of the service and is also distributed to some public locations such as hospitals, doctors surgeries etc.

Having worked with fire services and seen some of what they do in terms of publicity, I thought yeah, this could be a good outlet for a bit of advertising. Rates were reasonable for what they claimed was a good sized distribution on a quarterly basis, and entry into their business directory.

So, I agreed and paid up.

For some reason I went looking for the magazine on-line. Found it. Quality was poor, and it was not region specific (as claimed) and there were hardly any ads in it. That got alarm bells ringing, so I went digging.

It's a scam, targeting small businesses and it ran absolutely on track with all the articles I found on it.

Phone call from a private number followed up by a phone call from the publishers which was an 0845 number. The company in this case is called Tiber Design, although a company with that exact name doesn't exist, but I did find their website and they are based on Liverpool. Apparently they were close to deadline and had space left for me to get a free upgrade in ad size... sweet I thought.

I've cancelled (as is your right under the distance selling regulations - now called something else) and am awaiting my refund, although that could be problematic as I cancelled my card last night just in case it was a wider scam involving card fraud.

This scam is targeting small business and is not limited to the fire service. Looking on-line, they also use your local police force. There is some suggestion on-line that people who have cancelled have been chased down by debt collectors, fingers crossed as they have acknowledged my cancellation request in a civil manner that won't happen, but they are morally bankrupt scum bags trading on peoples willingness to help their local fire fighters and police so I wouldn't put it past them.

Stay alert, don't be suckered into it like I was yesterday.

 

[stevethesparks]

Never paid by card over the phone.

 

[Midwest]

Friggin hell, I pay by card all the time, how else can I get my Saga holidays and bottles of Chateau de Chateau.

Its those cold calls you get from accident claims line that annoy me, 'Hello Mr Midwest, we hear you've been involved in an accident...............NO I F'n HAVEN'T, now stop bothering me'. Had two in the space of 2 minutes (I jest not) the other day. Make's you wonder if they know something.

 

[Wilko]

Thanks SC. Glad to hear you are out of their clutches
After a car repair I've had a string of calls like MW too. One early on , I bothered to explain the car was parked and unoccupied when damaged but the chap was still trying to get me to make an injury claim. And no, it didn't pay for the recent Swiss train trip ...

 

[R G]

Telephone scams saying their doing it on behalf of the Police or Fire Service have been on the go for some time , another one was Great Ormond Street being used , I have had loads of calls , never get involved because if you show some interest they won't leave you alone ,

 

[sparkdog]

I think the police is a favourite and also various "Help the children."

 

[SparkyChick]

I hadn't heard about these until last night when I went digging so just thought I'd mention it to help someone else avoid it.

As for accident claims, I managed to keep one guy on the phone for some time, the gist of it was something like this:-

I understand you had an accident ma'am... well, yes, I stubbed my toe on the castor of my bed.... oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Who do you blame for the accident?... well clearly it's the bed manufacturers fault for putting the castor too close to the corner.... where was the bed at the time of the accident? Was it in a public place?

At that point I hung up as I just couldn't contain my hysterics any more

 

[SparkyChick]

Quick update.

Well I actually got a refund from this bunch of scammer, but today whilst out on a job I got a call from a someone claiming to be from 'Planning Advisory Services'. The extra S is important.

There is a government service called 'Planning Advisory Service' and I think this company is trading on the similarity.

Apparently I can be the only spark in the planning application information packs which get sent out to anyone who applies for planning permission in my area for the princely sum of around £320 per year. I'll also be sent full details of all applicants that receive the pack in my area so that I may market directly to them (freely available information).

The phone numbers relating to this particular scam (are 0800 038 5315 and 01253 627401). The latter does appear on several troublesome phone number lists.

So, for those new to running their own business, another scam to be wary of I think.

 

[SparkyChick]

Guess I'm on a sucker lists now ffs.

Just had another call about advertising... this time in some 'Crime Prevention Agency' or something like that publication. As soon as I said 'Sorry?' As in 'sorry, wtf are you on?' gimp hung up. Withheld number.

Scum bags

It's like the scum bags that phone up 'Hello maam, my name is John. I'm calling from Microsoft Technical Support department, your computer has a problem'. Last time I got one of them I called him a morally bankrupt piece of poop (the not so polite version) and it felt good

 

[Wilko]

Sorry to hear these folks are winding you up ... but thanks for the updates.
I think some of them will be just liars and some of them will be organised fraudsters, but it's very unlikely good value will come from these unsolicited calls. I let unknown or withheld numbers go through to voicemail and surprise surprise they often won't leave a message (cause they know the recording can be evidence). Real customers I immediately call back .

 

[SparkyChick]

It just winds me up something wicked.

It's like last week, I'd just spent about 3 hours crawling round this guys loft, was a very warm morning so the sweat had been running off me. Popped in to Asda on the way home to pick up a couple of bits, stood waiting and some haggard bag poled up to me and in what I can only describe as drug addled drawl...

DAHB (that's drug addled haggard bag): "Why you all wet?"
Me: "Because I've been working"
DAHB: "Are you from London?"
Me: "No, I'm from England, but not London"
DAHB: "Used to go raving in England... never did no E's or Acid, but used to go raving there. What you been doing?"
Me: "I've just spent the morning crawling round a customer loft fixing his lighting issues, it was really hot"
DAHB: "F***, really? Why?"
Me: "Because it's good money and I'm an electrician"
DAHB: "I don't work and I get good money"
Me (what I would have liked to say): "Yeah... good to see my taxes are being put to good use scrambling your brain... work... you should try it sometime instead of sponging off the state and blowing all your money on chemicals"

Does my head in, it really does! People who take advantage of others

 

[Toneyz]

Guess I'm on a sucker lists now ffs.

Just had another call about advertising... this time in some 'Crime Prevention Agency' or something like that publication. As soon as I said 'Sorry?' As in 'sorry, wtf are you on?' gimp hung up. Withheld number.

Scum bags

It's like the scum bags that phone up 'Hello maam, my name is John. I'm calling from Microsoft Technical Support department, your computer has a problem'. Last time I got one of them I called him a morally bankrupt piece of poop (the not so polite version) and it felt good

I keep getting those phone calls not on my mobile but home phone I just let them ramble on just tell them'' yes I've done that'' '' no it's made no difference etc realy winds them up and why is it always at mealtime ?.

 

[SparkyChick]

Just a quick update for any new peeps...

Since posting this, I've had what I believe are three attempts to part me from my hard earned cash.

Two were in essence the same scam. Call from private number offering me advertising space in some type of public service organisation magazine. The one I remember was the local education authority.

In one I did straight out state I believed it was a scam and the other I was a bit more polite and suggested that as I was driving they email me the details... I didn't hear anything (no surprise there).

Just had what might be another scam get in touch. This time, it wasn't a private number, but it was relating to Junior League Football. Apparently they are releasing an app for parents to make their life easier, telling them when fixtures are and providing address details etc. for the locations. For the princely sum of around £100/year I could get advertising in their app and a printed handbook that will be sent to parents.

 

[NDG Elecs]

At least you got a refund SC. When I read your OP I thought you had no chance of getting it back! Another popular one is a supposed anti-bullying magazine. It's usually scousers on the other end in my experience - sorry Tel!
The only cold callers I will tolerate for more than 30 seconds usually have a lovely soft female southern Irish accent! Could listen to that tone all day!!

A lot of smartphones have call blocking/reporting on them now. Don't know if yours, or others, do but it's a great feature to simultaneously block and report a particular number as a spam one. I like the fact that by reporting the number it is being added to a database of tawts!