184 responses to “Crime Prevention Booklet”

1. 

   Pastor Will Ross September 7th, 2009 at 11:23

   I am a pastor from a church in Basingstoke. The same company called me today and told me that I had agreed to and booked £200 worth of advertising space in the Crime Prevention Booklet. They wanted me to finalise the details and collect payment. They told me this was agreed by me on 20th June this year. However, I informed him the date was a Saturday and that no one was in the office on that date. I told him that it could never have been agreed and eventually they told me they would find some else to take the advertising space. The guy said the company was C & W.

2. 

   Sandy Bullivant October 8th, 2009 at 15:58

   We have been targetted by a least a dozen of these organisations and I am afraid that I fell for their pitch once.

   I have since challenged all of these low life callers. In fact when I was contacted about advertising on “Dial-999.co.uk” we reported them to the Home Office and each of the services that they claim to be working on behalf of, and Trading Standards for good measure. It is amazing how quickly a call from your local Police Officer can deter these vampires.

   My tip is, the pushier and more aggressive they get, let them have their rant and then inform them that you too have been recording this conversation and that a transcript is on its way to Trading Standards and the relevant agencies that they are representing.

   Also inform them to remove your details from their database with immediate effect and that any further contact will result in a full report to the Office of the Data Protection Commisioner and that under the Data Protection Act, further contact will result in prosecution.

   Always ask to see the publication in question before booking space and check their circulation with BRAD or one of the other media directories before continuing and conversation.

   Good Luck!

   Sandy

3. 

   Sarah Meaker November 2nd, 2009 at 15:16

   I have been called today, by a lady named ‘Samantha’ from Crime Prevention Booklet saying that I had agreed back in August ’09 to the advertising space worth £149.

   Unfortunately, my mum (family business) had fallen for this pitch a while back and was sent a copy of the publication ‘Class M8′ which included a 40mm x 20mm advert that had been really badly designed and was printed badly – so I was aware of this as a potential scam anyway.

   However, they have said to me that they are going to send me the transcript of the call in tonights post – how on earth is this possible if I didn’t agree to anything?

4. 

   admin November 2nd, 2009 at 20:37

   Hi Sarah,

   Unfortunately this is the exact tactic they employ to get you to pay.

   I am however surprised that they mentioned the M8 publication as this is a publication produced by “Vardis” (I am not commenting on Vardis here as there is an ongoing investigation).

   I would suggest you contact Trading Standards asap. I would love to get a copy of the M8 publication if possible!!

   Thanks

5. 

   LG November 17th, 2009 at 17:35

   I have had a number of these over the past week or so. They all state a different publication and I too fell for it the first time around but have since recievd no copy of the publication. I now have 2 invoices in my in-tray, neither of which i am prepared to pay as I have not agreed to the advertising.

   If they call again I will ask for a transcript of the original call where I (supposedly) agreed to the advert.

   I will be passing all details on to the local trading standards office and my local police (especially as 1 of these scams said they were the police!

   It has been interesting reading your comments.

   Thanks

6. 

   Jill November 18th, 2009 at 22:43

   Hello,
   Today I recieved my invoice for £295 for an ‘emergency support booklet’ which I apparently agreed to support back in the summer….having googled this scam I’m so so glad I’ve found this website. These fraudsters I’ve had dealing with over the last five years have rented ‘offices’ or post boxes in the Wirral and Chester….alarm bells only started ringing in April this year after supporting a Vardis campaign for the Air ambulance. Booklets do turn up but they’re printed on photo paper from a normal inkjet printer and no doubt they are only printing one off specifically for each advertiser although they say the print run in for 10,000 copies.
   Huge big thanks for this website…can’t bear to add up how much my company has spent on these frauds over the last few years….all these invoices etc I’ve still got records of. Any help anyone needs with this in the future please contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help.
   Thanks again

7. 

   Gavin December 8th, 2009 at 16:36

   Hello,

   I had a call yesterday and a couple last week by the same person/s with this same scam! if you just tell them that you have contacted trading standards and the police they will hang up… if you get an invoice from them DO NOT PAY IT… they cant do anything anyway well apart from keep calling you but they will give up after a short while. any invoices you do receive keep them as evidence should you need them.

   After speaking to trading standards they have been inundated with people like ourselves and are building a case against these scammers.

   What to do when the scammers call you…

   Ask

   1. callers Name
   2. Company Name and Registration number
   3. contact tel number
   4. What publication will the advert go into
   5. end the conversation
   6. call trading standards with the information you have
   7. call watchdog with the same info.

   If enough people do this then the calls will stop and we’ll get to see these scammers squerm on tv too. sweet revenge!

8. 

   Alan January 22nd, 2010 at 14:53

   I have posted this on the School Book Scam by mistake.

   I have had Sutcliffe & Co trying the same scam with me.

   They are talking about a police booklet in which they consider I have agreed to advertise and have told me that they have the agreement recorded via taped phone message.

   Bring it on!

9. 

   Sandy Bullivant January 26th, 2010 at 18:59

   Heads Up! The calls have started again!

   This time from a chap claiming to be from a debt collection agency acting on behalf of a customer with whom I had placed an ad! Well – they are inventive and original if nothing else!!!!

   My advice is – regardless of what they claim, they do not have a contract with you. Do not agree to accept any booklets they want to mail to you or your local school (that could constitute agreement).

   Playing dumb and asking them to email the invoice across so that you can settle the bill today is useful as at least you have an address for them then that you can forward to Trading Standards.

   Out of interest, did any of you register for any trade exhibitions or shows in the week before the calls started. There has been an interesting correlation with one certain exhibition group: every time we register for one of their events, the calls start again…..

   Good Luck

   Sandy

10. 

    Chris February 4th, 2010 at 16:49

    We run a small group of car dealerships and have also been the target of this scam. They are getting clever and claiming that certain members of staff agreed to advertise in their publication, they do get agressive when told to go away and even have the cheek to send an invoice in the hope it will be paid!

11. 

    Craig February 18th, 2010 at 14:38

    I had one of these as soon as we started business from http://www.communisafeuk.org/

    They chased like crazy for payment up front and even sent me an invoice. Then I heard nothing

    My business partners brother works in the police and had never heard of the police magazine mentioned

12. 

    claire devrell February 26th, 2010 at 13:50

    I have been contacted by brightstart solutions limited. This is a scam too for a crime awareness handbook. They say they have sent me to debt collectors, who phoned yesterday saying i had 7 days to pay £149 or it could eventually lead to them breaking into my business and removing items of worth. I have contacted the local police and they say do not pay as you are unlikely to recieve any goods and they use threatening behaviour to intimidate and get you to pay.

13. 

    Stephen Hill March 3rd, 2010 at 13:43

    I too have had endless calls saying i agreed to purchase advertising in Aug last yr… Since reading and finding other things written about these companys I now inform them i am dealing with Trading Standards and Indeed the Police..

14. 

    sam March 3rd, 2010 at 21:15

    I work for a company who does advertising for small businesses and we do advertise them in booklets. we have been running for nearly 6 years and have had no problems with any of our clients unfortunatly there are plenty of people out there who are willing ti rip people off therefore we all get tarred with the same brush. i tihnk its unfair to us who are making an honest living or trying to anyway.

15. 

    admin March 3rd, 2010 at 21:21

    Hi Sam,

    Saddly this is true, but I am certain if your company is genuine, you do not employ the tactics the scammers use.

    What I do think is unfair is when hard working self employed individuals are scammed out of their money when they think it is for a good cause. What is unfair is that genuine charities are losing out because they are being used as a pawn in the scam.

    I am sure your industry has a code of ethics and trade representation. Why not get involved with those organisations and help us stamp out the scammers.

16. 

    Robert Davies March 11th, 2010 at 15:57

    Hi I received a call from Blueline Publications Liverpool last year spouting about cheap advertising in their Frontline magazine which goes out to 30000 homes in the local area.
    I agreed to advertise but said I would only pay when I received a copy of the said magazine.
    Low and behold two weeks ago the magazine drops through my letterbox with an invoice.
    Now, not having come down in the last shower, I did a little research on this company.

    They are listed on the advertising protection agencies website.

    No one from the local Police or Fire Service has ever heard of the magazine.

    They have no website or even an email address.

    Oh dear.

    Anyways, having paid nothing I haven’t lost nothing but last week received a call from a Mr. Nathan Stone, from Blueline Publications accounts department.

    Very aggressive and when I told him that he wouldn’t be seeing a penny from me threatened me with legal action stating that he had recorded me agreeing to advertise with them. Which I had, fair enough, but only if the magazine was distributed to the local area.

    Anyways Nathan – and anyone else who works for Blueline Publications (they have even copied their logo from a company with the same name in Canada!) this is how we deal with you.

    If they ring hassling you, send a letter recorded delivery asking for:

    Proof of circulation figures within 14 days from a recognized industry source.

    Better than that – tell them to go straight to court – they do not have a leg to stand on even if you agreed to advertise with them because they do not distribute the magazine as stated.

17. 

    Sandra Turney March 15th, 2010 at 16:27

    I was scammed also by communisafeuk – I have taken them to small claims now and will let you know, what if any, response I get.

18. 

    Andrew King March 18th, 2010 at 14:09

    I have received two calls in the past two days. The first was from a Charles Parker based in Liverpool (didn’t get the company name) who was confirming our discussion in December whereby we agreed to sponsor Drug awareness books. Having been caught by this last year I pointed out to him that I knew, as did he, that we hadn’t spoken in December, that I knew this was a scam and that he shouldn’t call again. I then hung up.
    Today I have just received a call from Moreton Long Limited, a Sarah Brown confirmed that we had spoken just before Christmas (no we hadn’t) and that their crime prevention campaign had gone well (how ironic). Before she could go any further I confirmed I knew this was a scam but enquired for more details of her and her company, she said if we weren’t interested she would take us off the list, but I was persistent (instead of the other way around for a change) and said it would be interesting to take some details. She reconfirmed her name rather hesitantly but when I asked for the company name again she hung up…oh dear I think I may of offended her!! My advice is remain calm on these calls and enjoy extracting information from them until they hang up. If I do get information from them I intend to thank them and confirm that I will be passing the information to the police.

19. 

    Robert Davies March 27th, 2010 at 12:00

    OK so here I am ‘again’ with more info on how my ongoing adventure with Blueline Publications is going.
    So haven’t heard from them since I last spoke to Nathan Stone unfortunately, but today I check my mail and guess what? A nice letter from a company called ‘Business Debt Recovery’, who from detailed searches I have carried out appear to not even exist. But I don’t suppose this stops the scum who posted it but heh ho.
    So here is what the lovely red letter says.

    ‘We are now in possession of a county court order as a consequence of non payment of the amount below.

    (first I’ve heard of it)

    Be advised that unless settelement of the claim shown hereon (shouldn’t that be herein?) is received by this office within 72 hours of the date on this letter (there is no date on the letter) we intend to advise our client to instigate IMMEDIATE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU.

    (I’m trying hard not to laugh at this point)

    Subject to judgement and the rules of the courtour client may then be entitled to costs, fees and interests and to take any of the following relevant actions against you:

    1. ATTACH your GOODS, such as furniture and property and have them sold in execution.

    (now forgive me for being picky but – ATTACH my goods to what? and sell them in execution? don’t you mean AUCTION? what are you going to do – shoot my sofa at dawn??)

    2. Initiate proceedings to obtain a WINDING UP ORDER against you and/or ontain a court order for a DIRECTORS EXAMINATION.

    3. Seek an order against you which will ATTACH ANY MONIES that may be due to you from other sources.

    4. ISSUE A STATUTORY NOTICE TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY WOUND UP AND LIQUIDATED.

    Sorry for any spelling mistakes reader – trying so hard not to laugh.

    So thats it. The address to send the payment too:

    103 Imperial Court, Exchange Street East, Liverpool L3 2AB.

    No company name – funny that.

    Now then I would like to know just what Trading Standards are doing about this because in my book this is now harassment and potentially attempting to obtain money with menaces – which is illegal.

    If they do not do anything about this – well I am going to set up one of these dodgy companies and scam people like this because it seems that there is a lot of money to be made with no consequence. Trading standards have no power and the police cannot be bothered.

    Of course I won’t though because I have some morals…

20. 

    Rebecca Commons March 27th, 2010 at 12:53

    Hi all,

    Just Like Robert I also recieved a lovely letter from “Business debt recovery” this morning. However mine stated;

    “Reference number FL-3097″

    We are writing to inform you this account has now been passed to ourselves.

    An applicaton will be forwarded to the magistrates Counrt as a consequence of non payment of the outstanding amount.

    If a claim is issued, court fees and legal costs will be added.

    If a judgement is made against you, your name and address may be entered into a register of county court judgements which may remain for up to a six year period.

    This may make it difficult to obtain credit in the near future.

    To prevent this action from being taken payment must be recieved within the next 7 days.

    Make all cheques payable to BLUELINE PUBLICATIONS”

    Again like Robert I also did some research into the company and drew a blank – in fact the only business I could find registered to that address was a vitamin company which is no longer trading.

    I have managed to stumble accross the following websites though if anyone is interested?

    http://bluelinepeublicationsliverpool.blogspot.com/2010/03/blueline-publications-liverpool.html

    As for me, I will be happily ignoring my debt collection letter, if they want to take me to court then fine, we’ll see who comes out better off…….

21. 

    Phil Talbot March 30th, 2010 at 13:15

    After numerous calls from Nathan Stone and a copy of Frontline magazine I almost sent a cheque, feeling a little guilty that I’d doubted the credibility of Blueline Publications, and reported them to Trading Standards. Fortunately this feeling didn’t last long and I came to my senses before making payment.

    Similarly to Robert and Rebecca I have today received an “IMPORTANT NOTICE” from Business Debt Recovery, on behalf of Blueline Publications.

    Do Trading Standards have the power to do anything about this?? I’m sure they’ve been reported by plenty of people, so how can this go on for so long…

22. 

    Robert Davies March 30th, 2010 at 14:50

    To Rebecca: the blog you mention is mine.
    I set it up to get the word out about this scum.
    They really need to be stopped and all money seized.
    They are using tried and tested bully boy antics to try and pressure hard working folks like us into thinking ‘oh well its only 60 quid’ and pay them just to get them off your back.
    Consider this – if someone came up to you in the street and asked you to give them 60 quid would you?
    For those receiving these ‘red’ letters i’ve heard that the next tactic is to send you a court summons application – they will say that it is a court summons, which of course it is not.
    To clarify to get a court order against someone is a process that must be followed.

    you are sent a letter from the court (who you can speak to) to advise you of a hearing that will take place at a certain time and date

    you can attend this hearing and defend yourself and put your points across – you do not need a lawyer

    if the court finds in your favour they award you any costs (travel, time)

    if they find in favour of the other person you can appeal

    only then can you get a court order (CCJ) against you.

    the people (or person) at Blueline Publications are just using intimidation.

    IGNORE THEM I AM.

    I hope nathan stone calls me again. i need a laugh.

23. 

    Martin Long April 2nd, 2010 at 11:30

    This scam is now operating in Ireland as well. The caller’s number appears as ‘unavailable’ on caller id which probably means it is coming from outside of Ireland and the caller has an English accent. Calls are currently being made to parish churches with essentially the same message and looking for money for the advert.

24. 

    Michael Kenny April 2nd, 2010 at 15:36

    Please send me on any information if you can it will help me
    Michael Kenny

25. 

    Anne Taylor April 4th, 2010 at 17:03

    I am so grateful to Robert Davies and everyone else who has provided information regarding Blueline Publications. My son, who started his own business last year, has been well and truly scammed, I am sure, by quite a number of advertising agencies, all based in and around Liverpool ironically and from what he told me about their conversations I think they must all use the same recording to con decent working people out of their hard earned money. Unfortunately some have been paid but there are still some who have not received anything and will not either.
    A call from the infamous Mr. Nathan Stone chasing payment set me thinking when he said he had sent proof of the advert by email on 19 February but said he could not send it again. He then asked for a fax number to send the invoice. He can threaten all he likes but unless we get a CCJ issued against the company he won’t see a penny. Likewise a letter, undated, received a few days ago from Business Debt Recovery for an advert placed in the Fire Prevention Magazine will get the same treatment.

26. 

    Andrea Robertson April 6th, 2010 at 11:47

    Thanks Robert for bringing this to our attention. I have an invoice for nearly 200 which they are chasing me to pay. After reading your comments I will not give them a penny. When they first phoned I told them I hadn’t worked for months due to personal reasons and I had no money but they reduced the amount from 800 to 200 and by the end of the call I said “ok then” just to get them off the phone, little did I know it would cause loads of calls demanding money. They said today they only started this year and have issued one publication that is why no-one in my area has seen it???

27. 

    R T April 7th, 2010 at 14:38

    Yeah, another one here! I’m in a similar predicament now. I’ve sought advice from Consumer Direct and i’ve posted a letter. This blog was a great help by the way. I hope it doesn’t come down to needing a solicitor, but if it does, i’m confident i’ll win in the end. I just feel so bloody stupid to have entered into it in the first place. I should have known better! Hope you all get sorted. Wish me luck. Regards.

28. 

    R T April 8th, 2010 at 17:38

    This company was apparently ‘Blueline Publications’ by the way, supposedly based at Trident House, 31-33 Dale Street, Liverpool. Although it would seem that some people have physically checked the premises and found that they are resident there at all!

29. 

    Emma April 9th, 2010 at 15:55

    Hi Guys,

    I have a new business and have had this scam pulled about 8 times! i paid out of fear a number of occasions, does anyone know how i can start to get my money back!

    Emma

30. 

    Emma April 9th, 2010 at 16:14

    I would like to also say i have recieved one from the liverpool mob that is discussed by robert davis above!

    Please someone help!

31. 

    johnathan graves May 1st, 2010 at 02:23

    02:19

    Had a call today from a guy named David williams Supposingly calling on behalf of the police thanking me for past support in there police magazine. I say to this scammer when was this and how did u get my name and number and he says your wife. Had to put the phone down as my wife past away 2 years ago and colleagues of mine say there have been around 15 calls from them trying to gain support in the past 2 weeks. TO PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO MAY GET A CALL OR HEAR ABOUT IT POST IT ON HERE OR REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL POLICE WITH THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE, THE MORE WE GET POSTED ON HERE THE MORE CHANCE OF GETTING RID OF THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL.

    p.s- tell your friends, family then everyone won’t ever fall for it, I really feel sorry for peoples hard earned money going on false advertising scams when lots of legitimate charities are losing out.

32. 

    Tony May 1st, 2010 at 10:04

    I had a call from someone with a liverpool accent claiming to be from East Sussex Police, I have recieved an invoice for payment for an ad in a magazine called frontline. I am sending a letter recorded delivery asking for proof of publication and circulation… I have informed the Police, and Consumer Direct

33. 

    Daniel May 7th, 2010 at 14:37

    They tried to con me by saying they were from the local fire brigade. As I live in Liverpool and he had a scouse accent, it was quite natural to assume that he was very genuine. I only agreed to see details but have now had a “Request for Payment” along with the most tacky advert I’ve ever seen. I work in graphic design and would never dream of advertising my business with such poor-quality artwork! There is also no mention of the fire brigade anywhere. It is now the Street Watch magazine that my sub-standard, unagreed and totally unwanted advert will appear in. This appears to have the backing of BRAKE – road safety charity and an endorsement from Helen Mervill, Corporate Liason Officer. Maybe we should all contact her, too? The registered office for these people is 19 Flint Street, Liverpool L1 0DH, which is a 20 minute journey from my house, so I’m off down there now for a sniff around

34. 

    Chris May 11th, 2010 at 21:06

    Hi I need some advice on these companies. I posted earlier asking about a company but it maybe possible that these are the legit ones. Anyway yesterday I received a phone call from media/charity company ltd (i didnt get all of it) wishing to thank me for their campaign and how successful it’s been. Because I have used a local magazine before I thought they were calling on behalf of these just to confirm print and details. The phone caller was extremely confident, obviously had been well trained and versed into the conversation and spoke quickly, clearly designed to confuse myself into what he was talking about. He mentioned how he understands that for security I did not want follow on calls along with many other quick fire sentences aimed to confuse me even more. He then said can you speak to our advisor to confirm details. Again thinking this was the legit firm said yes and 5 min later probably from the same phone someone rang stating the conversation is recorded and started taking company details, my name and password and mentioned the yearly mag at £199. Confused I said that the advert I purchased was quarterly and that I’d already paid. He said no you haven’t paid and we’ll be sending you the invoice. I said I’ll check my accounts, only after did I realise this was a pushy scam company trying it on. Unfortunately because I thought it was for some other legit advert I let them record me and take personal details. What should I do with the invoices? Should I ignore them or shall I demand more information when they do call me?

35. 

    Alex May 12th, 2010 at 14:48

    I had a phone call yesterday from some guy with a Liverpool accent claiming I agreed to an advert in a magazine in November.I told him I made no such agreement and they were not getting the £299 they said i owed.They then reduced the price to £120 but said non payment would result in a bill for £499.I told them they could go and whistle unless they could produce a signed agreement.
    Today I receive a call from someone claiming to be from a debt collection agency…my wife takes the call and asks what its in regard to…they say they are calling on behalf of the magazine who i now apparently owe £699 to.Then they tell her menacingly ‘tell Mr .J… we are going to pay him a visit’…to which she replied ‘Fine ,bring the paperwork with you.’
    I’m considering phoning the police as I now regard this to be harassment and it’s obviously a scam but the number was witheld so if they phone again I’ll try and extract some info….

36. 

    Chris May 14th, 2010 at 12:34

    I now have a phone number, photo of the house and a bank account number for one of these companies. What should I do with them?

37. 

    Tony May 23rd, 2010 at 15:29

    I had an interesting version of this scam.

    I was called by a legitimate sounding business who offered to send out a totally free trial offer of something.

    When it came there was a proforma invoice for whatever the service was.

    In tiny letters at the bottom was a small notice that if we were not interested then we could cancel the invoice BUT would have to pay a cancellation fee of about £13.

    I posted it back noting that it had been sent to me free and that I was not going to pay their “cancellation fee”.

    later I had a genuine debt collection company contact be about it and I eventually got to speak to some kind of supervisor to whom I explained that they were acting for a dishonest company and it would bring their firm into disrepute if they continues with them. I heard nothing more!

38. 

    Sue May 25th, 2010 at 10:43

    I was called this morning form a very over-familiar man calling himself James who told me that I had agreed, during a phone call he had made to me in January, to advertise in a crime prevention booklet. As I very rarely advertise I questioned this – and for a moment thought I must have had a serious ‘senior moment’. When James told me that I had agreed to a payment of £149 (including VAT!) I knew I had had no moments of forgetfulness. I very rarely advertise, and only in targeted publications. I was very clear with James that I had not agreed to this, and to remove any copy (where from, not supplied from me) from this booklet. And put down phone.

    Then found your web site.

    So beware, Crime Prevention Booklet scam live and active!

39. 

    Andy May 25th, 2010 at 13:32

    Just took a call from a dim-sounding chap named ‘Adam Jones’ on behalf of the police thanking me for advertising in the crime prevention booklet. I said we hadn’t. When pressed he admitted he was calling from The Blue Line on behalf of the ‘local police force’ about the Crime Prevention Booklet. When I asked for the name of his contact at the ‘local police’ I was met with stunned silence for a few seconds until he abruptly hung up! Result! We record calls here so I’ve just saved the audio file and am using it as my new PC startup chime!

40. 

    Jeremy Woods May 27th, 2010 at 11:30

    It goes on! I had a similar call from Blue Line referring to a similar previous conversation regarding advertising and have ended up with an invoice from this mythical company. As it will not be paid (no order number for a start) I will be interested to see what happens but I do not take calls form “Withheld” numbers!

    It does make you wonder why Trading Standards people do not act on these scams.

41. 

    L.P May 27th, 2010 at 23:35

    I recieved a call from a company in Manchester.
    Saying the same as everyone else that it was regarding a crime prevention booklet advertisement i’d agreed to. I recieved the invoice for £149,which i sent a cheque .
    A few months later i recieved a phone call saying the balance was outstanding so i chequed with my bank and the cheque had not been cashed and i put a stop to it.
    After various phone calls from the debt recovery department i thought i should pay the outstanding balance via my debit card.
    (Big mistake) On the 8/5/10 they took
    £175.08 then on 15/5/10 they took £149.
    I rang to find why the additional £175.08 was taken and was told that it could of been a error.
    Alarm bells started to ring and i cancelled my card.
    I tried contacting this company but there phone number does not exist,
    Fortunateley my wife wrote down the number for the debt recovery company,which when i contacted them they tried to give me the run around.
    I eventually lost it with this scum bag and but hte phone down,within 10 mins i was contactede by the director of Start Bright Solution (apparently) saying he would look into this and call be back.
    I am going to contact this person tomorrow to see what he has to say(but as we all know i wil get no where).
    I just hope that these scum get what they deserve because if i ever ran into them i would have pleasure in breaking evey bone in there body for what they do to good people tha think they are helping a good cause…

42. 

    Adam May 29th, 2010 at 18:26

    I get quite a few calls from people claiming to be the ‘local police’ got him a good one last week by asking ‘which constabulary’ phone hangs up. Similar happened the following day, something to do with a police calendar, just laughed my ass off down the phone.

    I’m currently at the ‘Final Notice’ stage with blueline publications who seem to think i owe them £205.63, looks like letters and calls from business debt recovery will soon be on their way. Ahh well, keeps the Royal Mail up and running, shame about all those poor trees!
    When the calls start I might just have a laugh and keep insisting that i’ve paid them, give them the runaround.

43. 

    johnathan graves May 30th, 2010 at 01:27

    If they ring me again i will try force a fart down the phone and say stop talking a load of s***.

44. 

    Martin Peters June 2nd, 2010 at 13:08

    I’ve been caught out by these scammers in the past but have got wise to their tactics now and give them short shrift. Does anyone know if there’s a legitimate, definitive list of ‘companies’ pulling these scams? Also, i’m getting pressed for payment for a ‘regional wallplanner’ from a company. They even sent me a copy…. I don’t know what region they’re thinking of as I’m based in Cardiff and there are ads on the planner from as far afield as Stourbridge, Stoke-on-Trent, Tamworth and Llandudno!!! Is anyone out there being hassled by these crooks?

45. 

    Julie Rogers June 3rd, 2010 at 10:23

    Myself and a business neighbour received calls within 15 minutes of each other along the same format as most of you above. I tagged on that it was a scam and have investigated it further. They are currenty renting serviced offices at 40 Citibase, 40 Princess Street Manchester – if anyone is interested. I have also spoken to a friend who is in the police, who advises that we all should just quote the “Harrassment Act” to them which should make them go away, apparently. Obviously not for long enough though! It seems we have to be vigilant and take care of the situation ourselves.

46. 

    JDs June 3rd, 2010 at 14:51

    We received a letter which requested payment for an adevert including our company name which was to be published in the “Crime Prevention Magazine”. We were told we had previously supported this charity.

    on closer inspection the letter head was shabby, no contact number, not a legitimate VAT number etc.

    We called the company and told them we would not be paying the invoice becasue we had ‘Googled’ them and they were a scam. We were asked if we would like to talk to the Director at which point we said no, were just not paying it!……the guy hung up.

    This is a scam! After research they look as if they were originally set up in Canada.

    I’m with Jonathan Graves force farting!!!!

47. 

    Chris June 4th, 2010 at 13:27

    A company, suggesting that they are calling on behalf of the ‘National Crime Prevention Council’, are cold calling people with the scenarios as descibed above…’we recently spoke to you, and you supported our last campaign etc’
    They are operating out of Room 503, Cotton Exchange, Liverpool, L3 9LQ

48. 

    M And L Electrical June 6th, 2010 at 18:40

    Had a call from the copmany blueline publications trying to charge me £88 for a ad in the police booklet which i never agreed to i have asked for a copy of the agreement yet to revieve it.

49. 

    Honeybee June 11th, 2010 at 09:50

    I used to work for one of these outfits. I even know some of the names of people mentioned above. Ofcourse it’s a scam. Is this stuff still going on? I was working for one of the fraudsters about 8years ago.

50. 

    Robert Davies June 23rd, 2010 at 08:54

    Well, nothing to report since my communice’ from the nice chaps at Blueline Publications.
    Looks like they have given up.
    A message to anyone else here who is being hassled for money by this scum:

    1. DO NOT give them ANY bank or card details or ANY personal details.

    2. If you can RECORD ALL telephone conversations.

    3. Get names and addresses of the people calling you. Genuine businesses will have no issue with passing you this information.

    4. DON’T be intimidated. They WILL try and bully you – just remember YOU have the upper hand.

    5. If you are not sure about paying them or agreed to pay or place an advert let them take you to court. Even if they do (which is unlikely) ask them to provide the following information in court:

    Circulation figures for their publications recognised by a trade body.

    Invoices for printing, design etc.

    Names of their printers, designers etc.

    Addresses that the publication has been delivered to. You should then contact these addresses to ensure delivery.

    The court will see straight through this scam and award you costs and you will have nothing to pay. Hold your head high.

    This is a tried and tested scam that works like this:

    Person contacts you asking would you like to place an advert in a police/fire/ambulance safety wallplanner/leaflet/magazine promising you that it will be delivered to xx,xxx homes in your local area.

    They offer you a price which they then knock down considerably to make it look like they are helping you and doing you a favour.

    If you ask them for proof before payment they send you a copy of the wallplanner/leaflet/magazine (they will have a few knocked up).

    You then think everything is ok and pay.

    In reality the wallplanner/leaflet/magazine will never be delivered to any homes, and the advertisements will never happen. You have really paid for nothing.

    Hopefully this will be the last time I post here (should I not hear from Blueline Publications), so good look to everyone here!

51. 

    admin June 23rd, 2010 at 11:17

    Thank You Robert,

    Some really good advice there.

    I hope you dont hear from them again.

    From the comments and emails on the site recently, I think there is a spike in new companies jumping on board the scam wagon.
    I have heard 2 new company names recently and also, some companies pretending to be from scam companies that have been shut down! (odd)

    Adscams

52. 

    Stuart D July 2nd, 2010 at 10:54

    Same as Andy on 25th May above,just had Benjamin Whitworth from Blueline on the phone with the same word-for-word spiel that you get from all of these Merseyside/’Cheshire’ based companies. “I’m calling on behalf of your local police force… nothing to worry about hahaha… thanking you for your support with last years advert!”

    Accused him of being a scammer, had a bit of banter for a minute or so while he tried to defend himself and I quizzed him about his company…. then, as they all do in the end, he bottled it and hung up!

53. 

    kara July 3rd, 2010 at 10:16

    HI we are a new business, and have just fell for this crime prevention magazine scam,
    We thought it was a proper company obviously not after reading all the above stories.

    I think they have changed there name as this company we got a phone call from was just set up in 2010.

    iplmedia.co.uk we paid with our credit card the sum of 133.00 they offered 10% discount if we paid there and then giving us a 1/4 of a page of advertising which we thought was great price.

    They then send you an email to log into to view your advertisemnet you agree to it then they will put in the crime prevention magazine.

    I am guessing we will not ever get to see a copy of this magazine as it seems it dosent even exist.

    We are repoting to the police in liverpool as this is where this company is based, having to put a stop on our credt card.

    This will teach us a big lesson!!

54. 

    John Nisbet July 7th, 2010 at 09:45

    We recieved several pushy sales calles from Blueline Pulications trying to sell 1/4 page ad’s for Frontline Magazine. We asked them to send quote, which they have at a price of £346.63. Once quote was recieved we checked out company and came across this scam information. The company is listed on Companies House with very little information and there is no web-site for Blueline or Frontline. Please beware, they are very convincing.

55. 

    sugarpaste July 11th, 2010 at 19:25

    i have had the call this week never picked the phone up as i dont do unknown numbers but have saved the message he left again as most of you liverpool man called himself david lloyd calling on behalf of local police force nothing to worry about then goes on to say about the crime prevention mag thats coming out in about 6 weeks and that they are in our area at the moment and through the guverment they have to include local buis so if advertising is what we are looking for then to call him , so will be reporting it first thing tomorrow .

56. 

    Phil July 19th, 2010 at 11:57

    Hi.

    I left a message on here a few months back when I was called by one of these fictional publishing companies who almost conned me into buying some advertising space. Since then I have had about 5 calls, all of which I have been told to “F**k off” at the end of. One of which was 2 days ago.

    The same guy (with a Stoke accent) called me this morning with the same script. “Hello I’m Graham from the Police. I’m just calling to thankyou for agreeing to support us by purchasing some advertising space etc”.

    On this occassion I decided to go along with it. I did say that I wasn’t formally confirming anything over the phone (not that they will take any notice of that). In addition I have not and will not be providing any payment (didn’t tell them that bit of course).
    The guy even asked me if next time he is in my local area I would take him out for a pint after the superb deal he has given me!

    When this first happened I was unaware of these scams and became suspicious after doing a Google search for the publishing company in question. I then contacted the real Police and they told me they have never heard of the publication. They also told me they do not call people to sell advertising.

    I have had enough of this abuse and this time I’m going to give them a taste of it. I have no fear of any legal comeback from this fraudulent operation so I’m going to let them send out as many advert proofs and threatening letters as possible without response. When they do call me up, I’m going to tell them to F**k off!

    Immature – yes ok maybe a bit, but anyone who is receiving these calls over and over will agree with me that it becomes pretty tiresome. What annoys me the most is being sworn at and having the phone slammed down for asking simple questions.

    Yours angrily,
    Phil

57. 

    Becky July 22nd, 2010 at 10:18

    I feel so stupid, I’ve got been got by these scammers.

    They called yesterday with their usual spiel and I thought it sounded really good, so I said I was interested.

    They just called again this morning for payment and I stupidly paid
    Not sure why I did as I was thinking should I or shouldn’t I. I guess it was the offer of 10% off and I’m a new business so any money I can save helps.
    I’ve called my bank to try and cancel the transaction but I’ve got to call back next week as they can’t do anything about it at the moment.
    I feel like such an idiot I’m usually pretty wise to these kind of things.

58. 

    Ronnie July 22nd, 2010 at 12:58

    lol I just had a call thanking us for supporting the crime prevention mag etc. As the Director’s out of office, the chap is apparently calling back on Monday.
    Any messages from any of you to pass on? lol

59. 

    Danielle August 4th, 2010 at 11:16

    Anyone know if there is any way of getting money back, these scammers have got my Husband twice now and are thretening to take even more money from his account!
    It concerns me that so many people have been contacted & conned and yet there is nothing / no one on here who has sucessfully recovered their lost money or who has even taken these A Holes down. (

60. 

    sue August 10th, 2010 at 00:28

    i have had 2 phone calls from j r media and wilson haines i paid wilson 400 then stared to get call off jr media i phoned trading standard told them about it tryed phoning the scams and its a answer phone i am not pay the other 349 they can go and play on the m6 i am phoneing the police tomorrow

61. 

    sue August 10th, 2010 at 00:32

    wilson haines i send 4 post dated cheques i have cancelled 3 off them haha

62. 

    sue August 10th, 2010 at 11:44

    i phoned the police j r meadia is a scam wilson haines is not they are registered

63. 

    Sue Dearnley August 17th, 2010 at 13:34

    It’s obviously peak season for these scams. In recent months we have received several of these calls. Crime Prevention – Drug and Alcohol Abuse Awareness and a Fire and Safety Desk Dairy. I have even been directed to a website, (I have to say, very convincing) this showed a list of schools in our area that are supported by this particular scheme or should I say scam. By chance the first one on the list has I know closed down!

    These people have clearly done some research on our Website, targeting and asking by name for our key people (busy and likely to say yes, when told they have previously agreed!).

    We too have experienced the chummy friendly, you are so kind and generous approach only to be followed by you F***ing bitch and a slam of the phone.

    Sadly when this was reported to the Police they didn’t want to know – even though the Crime Prevention Magazine clearly displays a Police person on horse-back.

    No-one should feel stupid or gullible, these are very clever, albiet evil individuals preying on decent people.

    Does anyone else feel that their names are on some sort of list?

64. 

    Pat August 17th, 2010 at 13:37

    It’s obviously peak season for these scams. In recent months we have received several of these calls. Crime Prevention – Drug and Alcohol Abuse Awareness and a Fire and Safety Desk Dairy. I have even been directed to a website, (I have to say, very convincing) this showed a list of schools in our area that are supported by this particular scheme or should I say scam. By chance the first one on the list has, I know closed down!

    These people have clearly done some research on our Website, targeting and asking by name for our key people (busy and likely to say yes, when told they have previously agreed!).

    We too have experienced the chummy friendly, you are so kind and generous approach only to be followed by you F***ing bitch and a slam of the phone.

    Sadly when this was reported to the Police they didn’t want to know – even though the Crime Prevention Magazine clearly displays a Police person on horse-back.

    No-one should feel stupid or gullible, these are very clever individuals preying on decent people.

    Does anyone else feel that their names are on some sort of list?

65. 

    sarah August 24th, 2010 at 13:31

    I can not beleive the nerve of these people. The telephone conversation that i received from someone this morning was very polite and he seemed to no exactly what he was talking about, but when he told me that someone had placed the order on 07/07/2010 and told me that persons name then i became suspicious because that person hasn’t worked for us for nearly 2 years. The gentlemen on the phone then called me a F—ing Bitch once i questioned him and then a dirty Slag.

    Surely the police must realise that these people are using there name to make profit , but yet its us hard working people that get no help from the police!!!!

    So where does that leave the hard working folk???????????? Now where because the police obviously are not interested so its left to us mere mortals to deal with it.

    As you can read i am so angry that these wastes of space get away scott free and our names must be on all kinds of lists.

    Surely something as gotto be done.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

66. 

    Corinne August 24th, 2010 at 21:03

    Just got a call off one of these men today. Followed up by another call asking if my address and post code was still the same!! I had not given anyone these details so was a bit uneasy. did not agree to anything, but I still expect an invoice after reading your comments here. Thanks for the info, it will save me paying for what looks like a Good Deal!! If anyone is interested the phone number he rang off was 0151 236 8057.
    Maybe we should all ring it and give THEM hassle

67. 

    rachel August 26th, 2010 at 14:17

    Hi there. I run a pub in sheffield and have had the same thing happen to me from blue line publications. ive paid them once but still getting letters demanding 345 quid. ive told them to balls!!! i had a call this morning from a childrens charity saying id placed the ad back in june and that they can not stop the publication again told her its scam and that i would never agree to this as i dont have the money to advertise. thanks to all the peeps that have put information on this site. i wont be paying anything to them xx

68. 

    Robert Davies August 30th, 2010 at 11:41

    OK so I thought that these wastes of skin had forgotten about me – not that I am too bothered anyway – but alas they must be bored so they send me another letter , red border looks dead official (laugh) demanding that I pay them monies or my goods will be ‘executed’ and stating that they already have a court order.

    Laugh again.

    Perhaps I should write to them and ask for a copy of this mystery court order that I have heard nothing about.

    I love it – every letter they send me I just add to my dossier, which is getting quite thick now.

    Wonder whats next? Feels nice to be wanted.

    I have some monopoly money spare thinking of posting it to them along with a cheque signed M. Mouse counter signed by S.Claus.

    To anyone on here worried by these scum – don’t be!

    The VERY best thing would be for them to apply to a court to issue a small claims against you. The court people judge both sides (it’s all very informal and not scary at all – unfortunately I have a few experiences of small claims courts bad payers etc.) and then the court make a common sense judgment about who gets paid and who dosen’t.

    Anyone with half a brain cell can see that these guys at blueline publications are scammers – and do you REALLY think that this scum would turn up at a court?

    Let the demands keep coming and just ignore them. When they ring try to get as MUCH information about them as you can and if possible record the call. Just let them know that you are recording the call first!

    These people are just trying it on and will attempt to bully you into making payment.

    DO NOT PAY ANYTHING, ASK FOR PROOF OF CIRCULATION FROM A RECOGNISED GOVERNMENT BODY, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY PERSONAL DETAILS OR PAYMENT DETAILS, ASK FOR COPIES OF INVOICES FROM PRINTERS AND CONTACT THE PRINTERS

    YOU owe them NOTHING, YOU have CONTROL.

    They are not a publishing company, they have no website and people have even visited their ‘offices’ which are empty.

    Fear not, what comes around goes around, these guys will get their collars felt soon.

69. 

    Derek (Primary School Principal) September 2nd, 2010 at 11:41

    I was telephoned by Michael Tomklinson from Blue Line stating that we were due ‘Thank-You’ certicates relating to our participation Crime Prevention programme. They required £155 for advertising purposes!

    Having read some of the comments above, and as a Principal of a Primary School, it appears that anyone is fair game for this scam! They are persistent though – that was three calls this morning just to get to speak to me!

    Have been in touch with my community police officer so I’m looking forward to them ringing back again!

70. 

    Kay September 8th, 2010 at 11:56

    Sounds like I had the same guy as Phil!

    Called ‘Graham’ but with a strong scouse accent, and offered to buy me a drink next time he was in my area! Cheeky git.

    Said I’d agreed to advertising with them in May for £195 + VAT. Know damn well I hadn’t – already had 2 similar companies try it in April, so knew the drill.

    He then rang back to offer me a ‘reduced’ price which had been cleared with his boss (they do try hard don’t they), to which I lost my temper and said I’d never agreed to it and told him he was a scouse scamming b******. He then said ‘he didn’t want my money’ as I’d accused him of being a scammer for no good reason!!

    Unfortunately they have my home phone number and address from some of my advertising on Yell.com – that’s the only place. So I’m now waiting for the threatening legal letters and phone calls to start. They can try, but are not going to get anywhere!

    Was from the same number as Corrine stated: 01512 361846

71. 

    Cas September 14th, 2010 at 14:14

    Im shocked at just how many of us there are on this site!

    Our company’s also fallen victim to these scammers and naively paid for a couple of so-called ‘publications’, but hopefully we’re wise to them now and won’t be conned by more bogus demands.

    We’ve been sent various booklets over the past few years, one was even pretending to be for a cancer charity, which seemed particularly sick (I contacted the charity and they knew nothing about it, of course). They have no conscience at all and will use any means to extort money by preying on peoples’ good-nature.

    The latest received today is a ‘Fire Safety for Kids’ booklet sent with a pro-forma invoice for £99, no VAT number, no company registration number, etc – pretty amateur-looking really.

    More out of curiosity than anything, I rang the phone number on the invoice (0845 – they probably get extra income from that!) and could hear a telephone argument going on in the background. The guy I spoke to was really defensive straight away. Told him I wouldnt be paying for his scam booklet and not to contact us again. Won’t make any difference I know, but made it me feel a little better at the time.

    As a consequence, we’ve stopped agreeing to any sponsorship requests now, so as we can be certain we dont fall victim to any more scams. Apart from the stress it causes, and the loss to small businesses, the saddest thing is that legitimate charities are losing out to these lowlife.

    Ive contacted Trading Standards several times, but they seem to be powerless to do anything, so the scammers will just carry on preying on hard-up companies like ourselves and getting away with it.

    Dont be intimidated by them, tell them you’ve contacted the police and Tradings Standards for good measure – remember the’re just scum.

72. 

    Me too :( September 17th, 2010 at 13:16

    OK, here’s my story in a nut shell: First scouser calls, he sounds like a decent bloke not pushy or sickly like most (good at his job then) and I think what he is offering sounds good enough to break the golden rule – don’t do business on the phone. He wanted card details which I refused to give and told him to send an invoice

    Following week get another call from the second scouser telling me that I had agreed to support the police etc which to be fair, I had. Again declined the card payment discount and requested an invoice. Invoice arrived, I paid it (DOH)

    Following week, first scouser rings back asking for more money, stating he was from a different company and it was a seperate campaign and nothing to do with what I’d already paid. …”legally binding verbal contract, give me the money etc etc….”

    At this point I discovered this thread. I’ve had the numerous calls demanding the money which I will not pay. I have also taken the following actions which I would advise others to do:

    Report to police and trading standards AND Action Fraud.
    Update this thread!
    Go to your local station and pick up a copy of Frontline magazine (Yes, it does really exist) There are contact details for the people who actually do the advertising (they advised me to log the call with the police)

    Interestingly, this particular issue states “designed and printed by The Cedar Group” with a local phone number…. funny that.

    Anyway, as previously stated, DONT PAY THEM. They seem to have almost perfected the art of blag…. but I’m pretty sure that’s all it is.

73. 

    Claire October 1st, 2010 at 16:40

    We are currently going through a similar thing.
    This company claims that we have agreed to an advertising slot on a wall planner which is going into print next week for the end of the year.
    I am so glad I found this thread. I had my suspicions with their very unprofessional approach on the telephone!
    I just by chance put their telephone number into google and found out they had done this to another person so am even more convinced it is all a con.

74. 

    Glenn Butler October 7th, 2010 at 04:28

    Hey guys, was just reading everyone’s replies and would just like to say that this particular scam has reached Australia. I had a call a few months ago just after purchasing my company. and today got another one saying that my advert is ready and the “crime prevention magazine” is ready to be sent out at a cost to me of $350. The moment I said I didnt authorise it, she went quiet and then hung up. I wonder what other countries this has reached????

75. 

    Annoyed Annoyed October 7th, 2010 at 11:06

    I have been led back to this website on numerous occasions now and cannot believe how many of us have been suckered in by these scam artists.
    I am having 1,2 or sometimes 3 phone calls a week from these agencies and now cant get rid of them. Not only that as we run a family business it is starting to effect my mother badly as she is starting to think she is losing it because they are playing with peoples minds.
    The last conversations I have had I have no gone to the extent of recording them however todays was just the icing on the cake. Debt collectors are apparently now after us as we have failed to pay £194 approx on an advert. Brightstart or Brightstar solutions they were called and demanded we pay or they will come around and take the goods to make the balance. Who do they think they are? No amount for any advert they have called us about has been £194 so why pick this random figure. Blueline publications are driving me mad. Fell for it two years back and did an advert with them, give them their due the paperwork was very convincing and atleast I got some. Stupidly paid out a cheque and ever since they phone me to tell me I’ve done the same thing. I am now incredibly wiuse to their stupid scam and suggest all others after a long chat this morning again for Trading Standards to call them on 08454 04 05 06 and register as much info as you can about all of the above companies. The more complaints they have the more info they can collect and maybe they might do something about it. Am now looking at further ideas of to how to stop this.
    Advice
    Alwasy ask for an invoice or something in writing (u wont receive it)
    Do not give them any extra details
    Get as much information out of them as possible including full name, address and phone number (tell them you need it)
    Report all the above to Trading Standards
    If you aren’t already join Telephone Preference service and quote to cold callers you will be seeking legal action because you are a member.
    If they turn up at your door, Do not let them in and again ask for it in writing!
    Call the police.

    I hope that helps and that if we all keep reporting this eventually the buggers might be caught! ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Warn neighbouring businesses aswell as I found that they had done a company just down the road aswell! Blagging is clearly their middle name and whoever taught them their sales technique needs to find his self worth and realise he is taking money away from real charities that need it! Shame on you!

76. 

    Sarah Jones October 9th, 2010 at 06:17

    My company was contacted today about advertising in the Police and Fire Service Publication. Managed to get through to my boss by being a bit ecomonical with the truth about why they were calling. These scammers appear to be getting a bit slicker as they now have a fairly impressive website! But guess what, this company is also based in Liverpool.

    Anyway, nothing was agreed other than someone else was going to contact my boss straight away. The other person rang but didn’t get past the receptionist! When asked if we could take a number to return the call was told that we would get lost within the switchboard and they would phone back in 40 minutes. Anyway, 2 minutes later the first guy (Tom Harris) phoned back, I told receptionist to put him through to me.

    Told Mr Tom Harris we would be going no further. He asked why and I said that we wouldn’t use a company that used underhand tactics and misleading information when phoning. He seemed a bit put out and asked if I would like to put my complaint in writing. No problem I say (no intention really). Anyway he continues the conversation be saying he can’t understand why I have a problem and I’m not being very clear about my complaint and we have a discussion after which he calls me a ‘rude young lady’ I explain that I’m just being honest and saving him the trouble of continually phoning and never getting past me!! At this stage I tell him that I’m not prepared to continue the conversation and will terminate the call. He replies ‘thanks for wasting my time’ HIS TIME – IS HE HAVING A LAUGH?!!

    I was a bit put out about being called a ‘rude young lady’ but my boss says I should take it as a compliment as I haven’t been called ‘young’ in a long time!! (The cheek!)

    I’m guessing this won’t be the last we’ve heard from them, so now I’ve read this blog I’ll look forward to being even ruder!

    Some of the messages on this blog are really funny considering the type of people you’re dealing with – it’s good to keep a sense of humour.

    A message to Mr Tom Harris and the infamous Nathan Stone – Your parents must be really proud of you!

77. 

    Steph October 12th, 2010 at 18:41

    I can’t believe how many people have had the same problem as myself.
    I have also fallen for a couple of the Scamming Scousers in previous months and paid for adverts from Blue Line Publications. I became wise to it recently after being bombarded with, what’s felt like, hundreds of calls all starting with “Thankyou so much for your support with our charity…….”
    The icing on the cake came on Thursday, 7th Oct, when I recieved a call from a Manchunian “Paul Tomlinson/Thompson” from the Crime and Prevention Campaign, saying I owed nearly £3000 in unpaid advertising but they would write off the debt if I paid £635.14 by 3pm Fri. When I said I had no knowledge of this debt, because funnily enough I hadn’t recieved anything, he got really arsy and said I’d obviously misplaced the invoices….
    He also said it had to be paid in cash….. Very suspect.
    He called several times throughout Thurs asking if I’d got the money together and when was I likely to pay it. Said I didn’t have time to pay it and he got arsy, again, saying he’d be passing all the details onto his legal team and that I’d be getting a call from the bailiff company-Pheonix. Luckily for me, a friend of mine is an ex bailiff and I mentioned to her what had happened. She proceeded to call this “Paul” saying that she was my business partner and asked him for his debt collection license number, he didn’t have one but started calling me a liar. At which point she told him to go f*** himself and put the phone down! He then tried calling me at work and ranted to a girl that works for me when she wouldn’t put me on the phone-she was laughing down the phone at him!

    I have informed Trading Standards who recommended I log it with the Police-both are passing the info on to Greater Manchester Police as they are currently investigating these pain in the arse callers!
    The police woman I spoke to on Friday told me to just put the phone down on them, they’ll eventually get bored-it took me and my staff 4 phone calls today before they got the message!

    Look out for:
    Crime and Prevention Campaign (usually withheld number but did get 0161 2232266-the police woman traced this number and said straight away they were scam callers)

    Sarah from accounts at Waldorf and James-she also called last Thurs saying I had an outstanding invoice from 8wks ago-no paper work recieved my end. When I mentioned this she said she’d email me a copy. Opened the email, invoice date-the same day with a brief note saying the invoice date had been updated for my records! Yeah right! She called back on Fri asking for payment and I told her she could shove the invoice where the sun doesn’t shine!

    Apologies for the long story-this is the shortened version!!
    Whatever anyone does, DO NOT PAY THESE CON ARTIST!
    Get as much info from them as possible and inform the police and Trading Standards.
    If you tell the con men you’ve reported them, they almost laugh at you.

    Hopefully before long the joke will be on them!

78. 

    Katerina October 13th, 2010 at 10:52

    Hi guys, earlier this year we were nearly victims of Bluelinepublications scam but thanks to forums such as this I found out before my cash was handed over. Today I have just received a call from a lady from Manchester or Liverpool could not differentiate her accent and she was requesting our support to advertise initially free then at a cost later on for business listings website and the company was Crime Prevention Services ‘CPS’ – when I asked her if they were a governmental department or company she had the cheek to say governmental department, at that point I said adios i know your a scam so not prepared to take the risk, she very quickly said thanks for my time and goodbye.

79. 

    Fed up and more Fed up October 16th, 2010 at 13:50

    Hi to everyone i to am in the same situation as many of you, my ordeal started back in July when i was contacted by someone about advertising and stupidly i agreed and paid etc, then in August it went wild with telephone calls from advertising companies wanting me to advertise on wall planners, safety magazines, diaries, police magazines and lots more. I contacted my accountant as i was getting stressed about the phone calls etc, she took the matter into her hands and when they contacted me they were told to contact my accountant which some did and some did not. On monday i had a telephone call from a guy saying he was from northampton county court bailiff office and they were coming to my home to take the goods to the value that i owed them, i told them they were not as i didn’t owe anybody anything, they said they wanted £1800.00 then it went upto £2100.00 then it went up to £3100.00, i asked lots of questions and informed them i was going to contact the police and the court which i did and they have nothing registered against me which i already knew but needed to check, my accountant contacted them as well and was told to calm down be she had a nose bleed, she lost it and told them where to go and hung up but not heard anything since. They really are low life and should be caught for what they are doing, my situation is currently in the hands of solicitors so lets see if the take notice of them. My solicitor has all of the invoices but these people continue to contact me and i am now not giving them the time of day or my money for that matter and i will be finding a way of getting my money back that i have already paid.

80. 

    Lee October 20th, 2010 at 12:49

    I’m in the same boat as a few people on here. In June we started getting phone calls from companies saying about advertising in all these fancy magazines, we agreed to some local ones which we believe have been put to print but now we are receiving samples of adverts through the post from companies we have never ever heard of! ht emost recient one I’ve found out through the internet is definaltely a scam. Our office phone rings constantly every day, so far we’ve only been to the police abuot one guy who was demanding hundreds of pounds and if we didnt pay by that afternoon he was gonig to send guys from chester to get us and he had a warrant to get the money which he recieved from edinburgh court, this is when it first became suspicious, cause why would an english company go to a scottish court for warrants?? turned out it was a scam, does anyone know of any other companies that are doing this? would be much appriciated if you could let me know

81. 

    fbtw October 21st, 2010 at 17:41

    Thanks to everyone who has taken time to post on these forums. I am currently being hassled by Safety Planners Ltd, Kids Safe UK & Ireland and now Reflect Print. All claiming I have agreed to place ads in various “awareness” campaigns. I know full well I have not. The alarm bells started when one called me a f***ing slag, then a charming debt collector, Mr Hudson, threatened to knock my door down to take away my personal belongings. Have spoke to FSB, Trading Standards, all the fraud offices and police.
    I am not going to pay, with no proof they can see me in court. It just makes me so furious that these fraudsters get away with it, how do they sleep at night?
    Please report any incidences of these scams Trading Standards are investigating, and the police do not like people who threaten others!
    Cheers for the posts, I feel much stronger now having read all of these.

82. 

    A Oliver October 22nd, 2010 at 10:03

    I am so pleased to have found this site. I thought I was the only one being pressured to pay for adverts I had never asked for. I have been conned out of thousands of pounds and I now feel very angry. At first I thought they were genuine companies and at least I was helping charities. I have been plagued by them since early this year. I have learned a lot about being more careful in future. I have been in business for over 40 years and have always dealt with good honest people. Now the business world has been spoilt for me by these bastards. Can I trust anyone again. [edit - Some company names removed due to on-going legal discussions]

83. 

    Robert Franks October 27th, 2010 at 13:57

    Just thought I would take a look here as I haven’t looked in a while and to to my utter dismay I see that there are more and more people being conned out of £1,000′s by this scum STILL.
    When are trading standards going to do something??
    I know that the police are let down every day by the courts and the out of date judicial system so I won’t rant about them, but for pity’s sake WHEN will these theives be brought to book??
    My contact has ceased with them but for others on here it has just begun – my heart goes out to you.

84. 

    Alex Keenan October 30th, 2010 at 10:26

    Have just received the letter from “Business Debt Recovery” for £279.13 with original invoice date of 13/07/10.
    Blue line keep sending a copy of this invoice every six weeks or so.
    The advertising was never requested and no art work was ever sent.
    In fact the company ceased trading in May 2010 so why would it order items in July 2010.
    I have returned the invoices each time with a note as per the above.
    The latest demand is dated 29/10/2010.
    I am taking all the info to tradind standards.

85. 

    Sally walker November 1st, 2010 at 18:12

    Blue line publications the scam, have recieved today debt recovery letter for £514.13, for advert never order, no art work recieved etc. Artwork recieved by e-mail half hour after phone call to them. taken straight from my website, i am now taking this to trading standards & the police, since telling them this, no phone calls back. lets hope something gets done about them.

86. 

    Guy Oliver November 3rd, 2010 at 10:45

    10th November 2010

    Anyone out there who has received threats. Please ignore them, they scared my ex girlfriend with this but i assured her that they cant get a court order because they dont publish anything. If you ask for paperwork or proof of artwork then you receive something that can be created at any primary school.

    Just rip it up.

87. 

    Nick Parker November 4th, 2010 at 11:55

    Just had a call from these bastards as well. Told them I never advertised with them and they hung up. Absolute scum.

    Glad I found this website as I’ll try to get more details from them if they call again

88. 

    Sarah Robinson November 4th, 2010 at 12:54

    My husband received a phone call back in May asking him to advertise with Blueline Publications…sound familiar?? They said they were a police magazine and it would be issued to horse owners in our area due to the increase in horse crime?

    My husband is a farrier(shoes horses) so seemed legitiamte call. That night he googled Blueline and we read all about the scams. Shortly after we had literature from them so we advised our local Police and asked if we should bring in the paper work we had been sent. They said just to ignore it…so we did.

    We have heard nothing from them till our ‘County Court Order’ dated 29/10/10 from…guess who..Business Debt Recovery. For anyone like me who has read any of the above stories this may all be sounding a bit familiar!

    I called the police on Monday who said there was nothing they could do, just write and say nothing was ordered. So have been calling said Business Debt Recovery all week, no reply until today. Man was very rude and said he would call police and tell them it was nothing to do wih them and he was going to have me done for slander!! Hilarious…as I told him(I also said he didn’t sound very professional he said neither did I..told him I didn’t need to as I was disputing debt??) So now after a call to Trading Standards who said write them a letter denying debt and advised me there was nothing they can do.

    What kind of country do we live in when there are no consequences for the criminals only for us!!

89. 

    Mandy Illsley November 17th, 2010 at 11:48

    Our company was scammed by Blueline Publications but too late to cancel cheque sent.
    Anyway since then we have had numerous phone calls from Excel Media Ltd and Crucial Care, anyone had any dealings with these? I have told both we are not interested, same pattern about took advert out which we have not and threatened with debt collectors. Crucial Care have also sent a magazine through with an advert of our company (not that good I must say) the magazine is called The Community Safety Magazine and has a photograph of a Policeman on the front, 100% sure both these companies are scammers but would be nice if someone can let me know if they have had dealings also.
    Thanks.

90. 

    Mike November 22nd, 2010 at 15:21

    Just had a call from “James Carter” who offered me some advertising space in a new Police initiative magazing that will be distributed to 30,000 households and businesses in and around Hampshire.

    He claimed to be from the Winchester Police Press Office and gave a phone number of 0845 600 7001 and also gave me a mobile number.

    Prices were:
    £345 for a half page
    £198 for a quarter page
    £125 for an eigth of a page

    Very pushy – wanted commitment from me now and was on and on about getting an invoice out to me and “specially extended payment terms” given its near Christmas.

    I told him I wasn’t going to commit to anything now and that I wanted to research this a bit more, and that he should call back later in the week. He said he’d call back in an hour(!) and “very kindly” agreed to put my space on hold and he’ll ring me back at noon…I can’t wait!

91. 

    Ann November 23rd, 2010 at 18:31

    Caught by the ..”you committed a few months ago” …line and as I was somewhat under pressure at the time I thought I must have done. However the many pushy calls since and the failure to produce an advert from the Graphics Dept, in spite of very real looking receipts etc. I checked with my bank. The advert had been paid from my account but the Joe Jenkins who called insisted they had not received it due to a frozen account mix-up and wanted paiying again. A very helpful colleague of his came on to take details so that I would not be called again from for 2 years.

    Now I have an another invoice from a new CPA advert . I called 0845 519 6097 getting an unhelpful responder who tells me, after much querying and pushing from me, that Jonathan Greene is in charge but cannot be contacted except through the caller who gave no name. I could cancel if I paid £199 cancellation fee, otherwise it would go to litigation. How do I stop this?

92. 

    Ann November 23rd, 2010 at 18:32

    Caught by the ..”you committed a few months ago” …line and as I was somewhat under pressure at the time I thought I must have done. However the many pushy calls since and the failure to produce an advert from the Graphics Dept, in spite of very real looking receipts etc. I checked with my bank. The advert had been paid from my account but the Joe Jenkins who called insisted they had not received it due to a frozen account mix-up and wanted paying again. A very helpful colleague of his came on to take details so that I would not be called again for 2 years.

    Now I have an another invoice from a new CPA advert . I called 0845 519 6097 getting an unhelpful responder who tells me, after much querying and pushing from me, that Jonathan Greene is in charge but cannot be contacted except through the caller who gave no name. I could cancel if I paid £199 cancellation fee, otherwise it would go to litigation. How do I stop this?

93. 

    Robert Franks November 25th, 2010 at 20:40

    RE: Ann

    First of all – don’t worry. They cannot do anything to you or take you to court. They are just trying it on. I have dealt with these scum and many more like them, best bet is to simply IGNORE THEM and get on with your life.

    DO NOT pay them anything or give them ANY details about yourself.

94. 

    Mr B December 6th, 2010 at 13:08

    Heads up on a new version of the scam!

    I am fully versed in this publication scam and I have had the calls numerous times. Each time I get arrogant with them, and explain that I am the Head of Finance (which I am) and that everything goes across my desk and I am not aware, but will check marketing just in case but refuse to settle until then.

    However, the last time they phoned i took their number (I have a swanky Cisco systems phone that gave me their mobile number). Glad I did because a couple of days later I got a call from a Database removal company ! They were saying that my company was on databases and that they know Im being pestered and they offered a service to remove my details . However, the thick scouse accent made me find the number I wrote down and what do you know, it was the same one !!!! Basically I told him that i knew these calls were scams and easily dismissed and dont need his service, to which I then went on a free online Text service and sent him a message saying how it was funny that the numbers were the same – then I passed the details onto the OFT !

    Today I got called from the Advertising Protection Agency who look to be a genuine organisation, their website talks about getting our details off all these databases but until I have thoroughly researched them Im not doing anything – I did quiz the guy quite a bit and he gave good responses back.

95. 

    colin December 6th, 2010 at 15:40

    just had mike goodman supposedly from police mag offering me adv space in there spring addition he said he would reduce the cost t £145 plus vat then i looked at this site i havent paid anything and when he rung back i told him i thought it was a scam he said it wasnt but there are scammers out there and he would ring me back tomorrow am i safe ? and should i report it now ?

96. 

    Mr B December 8th, 2010 at 10:20

    Colin – report it to the OFT, they are taking all of this very seriously. They got back to me quickly, so I urge everyone to report these incidents and dont take any crap from these people, push back on them!

97. 

    J D December 8th, 2010 at 20:03

    Emergency Support Services
    I see that ‘Andy’ on is recruiting telephone sales people on 35 hour weeks, so I expect there will be a surge in this profitable scam.

    The script they are now using has been honed to perfection. If the unpleasant owners & morals free sales people put the same dedication into selling a legal product they’d make good money (& sleep better at night)

    Once you confirm your name, address, phone number any response except ‘sod off’ will be taken a contractual commitment to ‘continue’ your valuable support for the Emergency Support Services. They rely on it being cheaper for most companies to pay up than pay solicitors to fight the invoices.

    They could not give me a return number to phone back, as being part of the emergency services they need to use secure phone lines!

98. 

    J D December 8th, 2010 at 20:16

    re ‘emergencysupportservices’ fake invoice scam

    The NE Air Ambulance Service have today on their website disassociated themselves from the activities of “Emergency Support Services”.

    They say they will again demand that the images of their services be removed from their website. They say ‘it is not good enough to use our name in this way’

99. 

    David December 13th, 2010 at 17:44

    I had a call the other day thanking me for my support of a child safety campaign and advising that the campaign had raised so-far over £50’000.

    I told the guy to get stuffed and that I have supported nothing. He wanted me to support a new venture – get this – Community Recycling Awareness Project (C.R.A.P).

    Didn’t have the heart to tell him that the acronym was priceless.

    Two days later, an invoice from CPA Media 80-83 Long Lane, London, E1A 9ET, 0845 519 6097 (a number that has already appeared on this forum attached to another advertising company).

    It seems that this problem is big business and the dishonest people who run these companies re-spawn as new companies regularly.

    They have several plans of attack but most involve claiming that they have you on tape approving advertising. Demand to hear it and they will offer you a transcript – DO NOT accept this – demand the tape.

    Another common line is the “you’re outside of your 14-day cooling off period”. I have recordings of calls during which I categorically refused to support the publication and still received invoices. The caller did not give a company address, telephone number or any method by which you could action a cooling off request – they never followed up with artwork or anything other than an invoice.

    For some time we have been recording incoming mobile phone and other tele-sales calls from these people and we are feeding this back to the OFT and Trading Standards. If there is a registered company number, report to Companies House CIB Dept.

    Advice from a TSO that I dealt with is to remain robust, pay nothing and treat their threats with contempt. Essentially these companies do not want to expose themselves or their sharp practice to the legal system because that would draw in too much attention.

    You are not alone. Keep logs of calls and retain paperwork as evidence. Research the companies online and print out copies of posts about them from forums such as this to corroborate that they are crooks.

    Next time they call, remind them that you are preparing yourself for litigation and have reported them to OFT, Trading Standards, Police etc.

    Hope that helps,

    David

100. 

     stacey T December 14th, 2010 at 23:09

     Beware. we have been scamed we think by Blueline publictions, Trudent House Liverpool for £229.13p card payment as they work with the police & Frontline Magazine, which will be a new and vibrant magazine to bring in customers to our Farriery buisness and then the 2nd called Blueprint publications Horton House, Liverpool who wanted £295 for a buisness full page advert who rekoned they worked alongside Blueline and if we didnt have the advert done there would be a cancelation fee og £90 and there may be complications with our other paid advert if we dont take this ad. out…… so we eventualy after many questions and reasoning with this chap ended up with suposidly having a half page for a reduced fee of £195 which we sent a cheque off stating that we do not want any other advertising from either and wish to be removed from ther data base for next publications. Today 1 month on a 3rd Liverpudlian chap on the phone wanting payment for an advertisment that needs payment now as there are 60,000 copies needing to be printed and this is when we thought something fishy so contacted l;ocal police and tomorrow the trading standards will be notified…..
     Be aware…..

101. 

     Robh December 15th, 2010 at 23:46

     I got 2 calls today, the first from ‘Cheshire’, the second from Liverpool. the first call asked if i wanted exclusive rights to advertise as the only gym in Yeovil to feature in a magazine connected to the police. the second call my fiance handled, she initially told them to call back this afternoon. when they did, i answered and he started to rattle off facts about the ‘change for life’ program and that i could get in on it. i told him i wasn’t interested and he called me a fcuking w@nker and abruptly hung up. we have only took residence at these commercial property on friday, have had about 8 calls from companies re electricity and phone suppliers and now this. where do they get the number from? is one of the companies we have used giving/selling our data on? 10 calls in total is not just a coincidence…

102. 

     Keith January 4th, 2011 at 13:57

     We Received a call was from ” the police” turned out to be emergency support services who wanted to thank me on behalf of the police for my support !. I have never supported them !, then this morning received a red “Account Overdue” letter demanding £229.13. I rang the number on the demand letter and asked what it was for and who they were as I have never used them, was told not to worry as the account was being cancelled !. Thieves !. Have kept the demand letter and shall be sending it to trading standards and our local police station.

103. 

     David January 10th, 2011 at 12:58

     Happy New Year!

     Further to my post in December, CPA Media accounts department telephoned today to discuss an outstanding account for £500 (their invoice shows £400 but I couldn’t be bothered to argue) and I told the guy to f#ck off. He said we’ll take it straight to litigation and I said, “Good luck with that, you go right ahead”. I wanted to ask him where he got off sending out unsolicited invoices and tell him that he was breaking the law, but he put the phone down mid-sentence. Be robust, keep telling them “NO” and hopefully one day they’ll realise that you will not just roll over and move on to another prospect.

104. 

     gus January 10th, 2011 at 19:32

     hi,just in reply to all other people…
     I too had a phone call from a girl with a northern accent explaining that i been specially selected in my postal area,for full exclusivity being a painter and decorator for special price£95.00 plos vat lov as they speak lol.. for first book end of jan then october issue,,, now they knew my second name postcode, and road i live in(how do they know this i ask)so i gave them my email to forward their description of ad what they design but the lady said some one from there security team will ring me to confirm its legit….lol… then lady from liverpool rang up from number 01512366280 and she said who she was but cant remember her name, but she said if i wanted a discount meaning save the £20.00 vat ,,i said yes and she said can i take your card details and i said of course NO..but then she said she email me details but she has not yet,,,now i found its a scam L>O>L

105. 

     craig the plumber January 13th, 2011 at 14:43

     i recieved a call from them today,he was very polite and i couldnt place his accent… until i informed him he’s a robbing c*** to which he replied “you’re a f****** bell, ive got an apartment on the docks in liverpoooool and earn £1300 a week” in a very thick scouse accent! i told him i was made up for him and that the longer he spent on the phone to me the more commision he was losing.
     these people are trying to rob you so dont feel the need to be polite, lay into them. i quite enjoyed it!!

106. 

     SA January 14th, 2011 at 11:54

     Received a called a few weeks back from a Liverpudlian “Gentleman” claiming to be calling on behalf of the local police…. When I asked him which borough of the MET he was from he hung up!

     He’s just called me back (bright chap obviously!) and when I pushed him on the fact he clearly isn’t calling on behalf of the police so who is he and where is he from – he gave me the crime prevention booklet story and said he would send the certificate in the post to us, thanking us for our support… I even asked him what the message of support said – It wasn’t that good! I’m waiting to see if any invoice or more calls appear, I have notified the other people in my office so look forward to him calling back and having some fun with these scumbags!

107. 

     TM January 17th, 2011 at 15:24

     Blueline Publications
     Just received a phonecall from “Trevor” at Blueline Publications who said we were mentioned in last years local crime prevention magazine and that they normally deal with the owner of the Company whose name they mentioned. I said that we dont pay for advertising and he said it was free of charge. I repeated it several times. I asked for the name of his company and tel no. 0207 917 6772 which does not exist!!! The magazine is supposed to be published in April 2011 and I should be receiving a copy of the proof within a week – so lets wait and see!!!

108. 

     Joanne January 19th, 2011 at 02:23

     Over the past 6 months I have received hundreds of these phone calls, so far this week alone I have had 22 phone calls and this is even with being registered with TPS. I have had at least 45 invoices sent to me from various companies and I am now at my wits end. I can’t understand how these people have no conscience in scamming people out of money.
     I have never agreed to any of these ads and I have no intention in paying any more of the invoices. I Originally paid 3 of them as the caller claimed to be from a company who I do advertise with.
     After reading some of the comments on this I am now ready for the calls to come in tomorrow!

109. 

     David January 19th, 2011 at 12:58

     CPA Media are still on the case. Despite sending me an unsolicited invoice in December, I now have another copy of it and a demand for payment. So I called the number on the invoice and spoke to a “Tony Gerrard” the “accounts manager”. I explained my feelings and he asked for my invoice number, which I gave to him. I did not reveal my name or the company name. To my surprise (and I mean that) he could not find me on their system because – get this – they use the same invoice number on lots of invoices. I was astounded by this revelation in accounting malpractice, but gave him my post code and he couldn’t find that either. When I told him that I would take the matter up with TSO and Police he was keen to end the call and “wasn’t going to stay on the line to listen to my abuse”, because he had better things to do. I called him some rude names and he hung up. I will pass my recording of the call to the Trading Standards and see what they think of his dubious accounting practice.

110. 

     Adrian January 19th, 2011 at 16:14

     I spoke with a Paul and then a Richard Johnson who became very menacing… I paid 179 out of duress and have subsequently sought fraud advise from my bank who are looking into the Crime Prevention scammers…. Garside and Co (UK) – not to be confused with Garside and CO in London a reputable company. Be careful everyone these scammers can become very menacing…. I have told them my “proof” advert was less than pitiful and had no mention of what my company does nor any telephone numbers or contact details…. these people are scum

111. 

     Joanne January 20th, 2011 at 14:57

     Further Developments…..

     I am now in receipt of a Doorstep Collection Notice, thanks to Studio 31 for this, and a Letter of Notice of Intended Legal action, thanks to UK Media Productions for this one!

     I find it quite amusing that the legal action letter has a different total and a different reference number than the invoice htat was sent just last week from the same company!

     I also have received invoices from Studio 31, City Media, GPS Marketing and Imperial Media

     Has anyone every heard of any of these companies? I have tried to contact some of them by phone but no numbers seem to go through. I am now passing all of these to my solicitor to deal with and should I have to go to court well so be it

112. 

     Julian January 20th, 2011 at 15:26

     Recieved and invoice today (20/01/11) from CPA Media for an ‘advertisement’ (£400) dated 01/10/10 purportedly ordered by a named individual. We do not employ anyone of the name given. When I rang to enquire I was told it was for a ‘fire brigade’ year book or similar. Also contacted our local trading standards officer.

113. 

     Helen January 20th, 2011 at 16:24

     My husband has recieved one of these calls to day from some one saying he was from the police crime prevention and thank you for your support. They said that some one had spoken to him last november about advertising. He was also told that they would be sending an invoice for that ammount with some other paper work. He phoned me to see if I had spoken to the police concerning this. Thanks to a bit of dective work and your posts I have been able to tell hime its a scam and not to agree to anything or tell them anything. So am awaiting the long list of phone calls etc that appear to follow and the paper work to come through the door!!!. Thankyou to every one who has posted for stopping us making a mistake and believing these scammers.

114. 

     Mary January 20th, 2011 at 16:45

     Yes, Joanne, all of them and an awful lot more beside. We are on the case. An in depth inquiry is in hand with the intention of using the information to the detriment of these scammers.

     I lost thousands of pounds when I was targeted with up to 15 phone calls per day from more than a dozen of them.

     I contacted Trading Standards and the Bank and more recently my MP and Telephone Preference Service. . THIS CAN ONLY BE DEALT WITH AT THE HIGEST LEVEL BY MAKING COLD CALLING ILLEGAL. This is a preference phone line but…. so what? The fine per call, if proved is £5,000. Register your phone line with the TPS and keep records of phone calls. Report each violation.

     Advice:-

     Deny any contract has been made, regardless. In order to confirm a contract exists they must prove in Court:-

     1. The voice is yours
     2. That the tape has not been edited.
     3. It was not made under duress or misrepresented.
     4. That the product is fit for purpose (none of them are)
     5. Terms,conditions and the price were given
     6. Not made on a preference phone line

     Only Court action can decide so any attempt to recover an alleged debt prior to Court action is illegal. Call the Police. According to Trading Standards, not one has gone to Court.

     Please contact your MP. It is no good moaning WE MUST ALL DO SOMETHING TO STOP IT.

115. 

     Paul January 28th, 2011 at 14:10

     Wilson Haines are using the telephone number 02031373689
     According to a website this number is:-
     “Number 02031 373 689 is potentially valid.
     Oftel records show that numbers starting 02031 373 are allocated to Telephony Services Limited. Note that due to number portability if an individual number has moved to a different operator this information is not publicly available.
     Oftel’s last recorded change for this number range was July 2006. “

116. 

     FB January 30th, 2011 at 01:53

     All the above companies ring a bell with me… I’ve been reciving calls and invoices etc from blueline, IPL etc and now business debt recovery. I contacted the legal support team supplied by my governing body and the Solicitor i spoke to suggested its all a scam and seemed to know about these companies. She advised my to send 1 letter stating i require no advertising now or in the future and that i have no advertising order with them.
     Then i should report them to the OFT and Traiding standards to help the shut them down.
     She recomended me to keep as many logs, letters etc as poss so if they want to take me to small claims i have the required paper trail. If it goes to court you don’t need legal reprisentation and they can only claim cost of advert + intrest at a sensiable rate (ie bank rate) and court costs so max should be about £100 if i lost but she felt the case was strong enought not to pay and felt that no court action would appear.

     I will look for all the contact data / companys I have and post to help prevent others falling into this.

     Best advice i’ve had don’t buy on phone if you do ask for the ext No. and callers name and call them via a number you reserched eg Yell off there websites contact info so you control who you speak to. All genuin ad’s i have running came with contracts that they request a signiture from if i wished to proceed.

     Good luck and let us all try and get them shut down the theving gits they are.

117. 

     Helen C February 2nd, 2011 at 16:47

     Have just been called today, didn’t catch the callers name or company and as I was teaching I didn’t ask, I was told I had been called in September, which I know I wasn’t so I just told him that I hadn’t been, and never to call me again.
     I have lost count of the number of calls I have had in the last year. although they all say I have booked an advert, none of them can tell me what my business is!

     This one today came up as ‘unknown number’ on my phone, so they must have changed their tactics. I have saved some of the previous numbers on my mobile so I don’t have to answer them!

118. 

     Helen C February 2nd, 2011 at 16:57

     P.S. I rang trading standards over a previous call and they bounced me to the police, Greater Manchester police told me to ring my own force although the call had come from Manchester, and my own force told me to call Manchester, so not a lot of help there!

119. 

     David February 2nd, 2011 at 21:16

     I’ve been receiving a number of calls from an organisation representing itself as the “Database Deletion Service”. They mention that I have received a number of unwanted advertising calls and that they are working to delete my name and number from the databases of these scammers. This is supposedly a free service but I am not convinced they are or do what they claim.

     Usually during the phone call the person asks if I have received any paperwork from the advertising company and each time I reply no.

     I don’t know if this is some tactic to prove receipt of paperwork and thus prove a contract existed between me and the advertisers.

     Has anyone else heard of them?

120. 

     paul mcdowell February 3rd, 2011 at 13:09

     We had the same call. As a result, more invoices came in from companies that we had not heard of. It is probably all part of the same scam.

     The few calls we get now are just a nuisance as we know there is absolutely nothing that these scammers can do to us.

121. 

     Rajipura Kalpakian February 3rd, 2011 at 15:19

     Can anyone tell me anything about Reflect Print? I suspect they have targeted a colleague in my business group.

122. 

     Cazza February 4th, 2011 at 23:02

     The Database Delection Service is itself another scam, as is The Charities Database. If you agree to register with them, you will be expected to pay. Cue lots more contact with lots more scamming scum. These database deletion companies are a last gasp attempt to con money out of people who managed not to fall for the publishing scam. That is why they have you number, they are one and the same.

123. 

     Barney C. February 10th, 2011 at 19:54

     Got scammed by a company claiming to represent the emergency sevices, re advert for my pest control business, which I never placed… had threatening phone calls, … So thanks to this site I can **** them off !
     A nice gentleman said he would try again tomorrow…. Can’t wait, as will not get a penny.
     Blueline in Liverpool are scammers too, never recieved a complimentary copy of the magazine…
     Advertise on the web…

124. 

     David February 16th, 2011 at 13:52

     I received a similar call from this number – 02031373689 claiming to be from Facebook.

     The girl on the phone began really politely and tried to sell me Facebook Advertising for “£500, only joking, it is £99.00″. I laughed this off and told her I was not interested 4, 5, 6 times and then she became very aggressive towards me.

     This was definately a scam cold call, as if she worked for my reputable company her feet wouldn’t touch the ground.

     Don’t fall for it…Stay well clear and tell her to feckoff when she rings.

125. 

     David March 1st, 2011 at 14:17

     I just had a call from 0161 457 0881. The girl claimed to be working for a David Lloyd Centre and was looking for companies in the surrounding area that wanted to advertise in their brochure.

     Add this number to your telepest ringtone. My phone barks when I get calls from known telepest numbers. That way I can choose to ignore, be rude or wind them up.

126. 

     james johnson March 1st, 2011 at 19:14

     Hi, I have just received an invioce from a company called Global media corporation, they told me they’d contacted me in January and I agreed to advertise in a police booklet [strange for a specialist firm like mine!] however I suggested where they may like to shove their invoice, I await hearing from them!

127. 

     A Naylor March 19th, 2011 at 09:50

     I have over the past 6 months or so received several calls from various companies, Blueline Publications, Imperial Media, all for advertising saying that I’d agreed to take space, even though I told then I did not have any recollection of that call. I have then received invoices together with suggested artwork and obviously not realising that it was a scam said I would go ahead. I have subsequently received calls bullying me and have paid some money to these companies. They are quick to demand payment but when you realise that it is a scan and look on their websites and find that the ad you paid for is not there and you ask for your money back they don’t respond. I am now going to speak to my bank and try and get the money recently paid back.

     In reference to a previous thread above, referring to a Database Deletion Service. I received a call from them only last week saying that I could be entitled to money back from various advertising agencies who are not legitimate. I’ll wait and see if I hear from them again, if so I’ll post a note here. Thanks for this site I came across it quite accidently whilst looking for Crime Prevention Initiative magazine.

128. 

     paul mcdowell March 22nd, 2011 at 11:40

     As a result of the database deletion service you will probably get more invoices from other companies if you agreed for them to act for you. Ignore them all and get your local trading standards involved, this generally stops the harassment.

     If you have paid anyone by Paypal, use them to get your money back, they are very efficient and effective.

129. 

     Meerkat Stu March 24th, 2011 at 14:23

     Hi,

     I’m going through the process with a couple of companies at the moment. One is Crucial Care and the other is Digital Jupiter. One of these got me with a Police Magazine and also promised possible work at my local police station (how stupid/greedy was I?) and somehow they both got me to agree with diaries as well by saying they are associated with the other.

     Anyway fast forward to now and Crucial Care are saying they are going to pursue me for payment – good luck to them I say, they are going to need it.

     However I contacted a non-government organization called “The Advertising Protection Agency” because these scammers appeared on a list of their monitored companies. TAPA claim to be able to represent you and stop these companies calling as well as getting any money paid out already back. So far so legit (ish) but I can find little or no information about TAPA other than on their website. They also require a registration fee of £62+VAT and a monthly membership fee of £8.22.

     What makes me suspicious is that only 2 days after I contacted TAPA, Crucial Care (who I had told TAPA about) contacted me with 5 abusive phone calls ending in more abuse and a promise to take me to court. Then this morning TAPA contacted me again saying they had a raft of companies phone them concerning Crucial Care asking for money and threatening action.

     Does this seem a little too convenient – all seems plausible but registers a blip on my
     scam-alert-radar-scope-o-meter.

     Has anyone any experience of The Advertising Protection Agency?

     Stuart

130. 

     Nicola Bennett March 26th, 2011 at 00:53

     I have also just realised that I ahve been scammed. I have paid out to 2 of these already with another 3 invoices pending and the phone calls getting more abusive. The following companies are ones to watch out for: EMS media, Imperial media, Hillden and Alexander & sons publishing working on behalf of the police community clubs. The latter has a journal but it has free advertising. I has sought legal advice from the federation of small business and I now intends to report these scammers to the trading standards. The abuse these people give and the intimidation is unacceptable never mind the fact that they are robbing hard working business people like myself of our hard earned cash.

131. 

     Helen C March 31st, 2011 at 15:48

     just had another call, this time from Sanderson publications, saying I’ve agreed to an ad in some health and safety booklet which i havent!

132. 

     Helen C March 31st, 2011 at 15:56

     interesting comments about TAPA, it’s ringing alarm bells with me too. They want alot of money, but i cant see how they are going to stop the nuisance calls!

133. 

     Paul Stone April 7th, 2011 at 11:43

     Just had a call from a guy called Lawrence, claiming that we sponsored this publication before (lies), thanking us for our continued support & we would shortly get a call from their publisher. 5 mins later Blueline publishing called asking for payment of our order £155. Told them where to go..This had scam written all over it!

134. 

     Kim April 7th, 2011 at 19:34

     Nearly got scammed but was able to cancel payment as I had done it on line. A Richard Johnson called advising that he was sorting out my issues with all the calls I had been getting. He informed me that he was going to remove me from the Charity database, said he could tell that I had a lot of outstanding invoices (I don’t think so) but that I didn’t need to worry as they would be cancelled as soon as I paid the outstanding payment to Safety Services, which were NOT a scam (yeah right!) but a really nice company! Anyway cut a long story short, paid the money across but had a gut feeling to google this company and also Richard Johnson. Also contacted Manchester Crime Prevention Unit who advised never heard of Richard Johnson. Well I called my bank straight away and cancelled the payment and emailed this so called safety services that I would not be paying, I have had three phone calls this evening getting more and more irate from this Richard Johnson. Please beware!

135. 

     Chris A April 18th, 2011 at 12:26

     Just seen this thread after being contacted by Trading Standards about CPA Media as they are using my company name.

     It appears they are completely a con so DO NOT pay any invoices.

     I now have a solicitor on the case and Trading Standards are pursuing them. Does anyone have another number for them as the one on this website just goes to a voicemail?

     I’m fuming as I run a reputable media agency and they can potentially ruin my company’s reputation.

     Thanks

136. 

     Steve L April 26th, 2011 at 16:41

     These scammers are still at it. Have just received an invoice from kids safe uk & ireland for £190.00 for services I haven’t agreed too, knowing that i have never spoken to these people.

     I will not be paying this bill,as they are part of a long list of so-called media advertising who have attempted to extract monies from me.
     I ‘ll wait for the bogus debt recovery company to call me and record their conversation and pass it onto the actionfraud website.

137. 

     Jayne D April 28th, 2011 at 15:14

     Have been bothered by these sharks since Dec, mostly Emergency services press, EMS, Digital Jupiter, Have reported them to police and trading standards, and have lost money via credit and debit cards. No one is interested just says to put down phone. Shocked that such companies are allowed to keep going year after year, Just so sorry for any genuine cold callers as I am blunt “NO”. Really upset as trying to run small business, thought I was doing my bit for emergency services. Lost money I can ill afford, Any one have idea of how to get it back?

138. 

     Alan Mulligan May 9th, 2011 at 15:24

     These people must be back in business I just received a call as below.

     “Can I speak to the Owner Please?”

     He was calling “just to thank me for my support”, the Crime Prevention Booklet was a success and he wanted to “Check my details” because apparently in April I agreed to support them.

     This scam is using the same scam script – claiming they spoke to me a few months ago and I kindly agreed to support them.

     Apparently it is a “Crime Prevention Booklet”, unfortunately the caller hung up before I got chance to extract any more information. If anyone has any further information please let me know.

139. 

     paul mcdowell May 11th, 2011 at 13:23

     If you paid through Paypal, they have a ‘Resolution’ forum in place for the buyer to get money back if the goods (adverts) are not produced.

140. 

     Sven Johansson May 18th, 2011 at 15:13

     We have been scammed recently by a company calling themselves EMS Media Company and supposedly representing the emergency services. Abusive calls demanding payment for an advert we did not place are just starting.

     A month ago we agreed to publish in a magazine called “The Blue Line” – it is also a scam.

     It all began both times with someone calling to speak to me by name. When my receptionist asked if I was expecting the call, they said yes. With EMS they said once “We are from the Police” and later “we represent the police”.

     With “The Blue Line”, they thanked me profusely for our support of a recent crime prevention campaign. I thought maybe someone else in the comapny had put in an ad and as it was supposedly a charity dealig with crime prevention eduation in my area, I agreed to an ad for £195. They said what they would be putting in the ad, read out the words, and I agreed – it was after all going for a good cause!

     After we paid for the ad, we found out that they don’t publish their magazine and distribute 6500 copies as they said they do, the comapony refuses to give out documentary evidence of circulation, and when pressed for documentary evidence to prove they actually printed the April edition, they provided an invoice which was roughly one sixth the cost of printing in full colour that they claim they do. We print a lot and know the costs.

     The matter has been passed to the police in both cases.

141. 

     Jessica May 19th, 2011 at 14:08

     I think Blueline is now operating in Glasgow – check this link out. I think they used to run the same scam under a differrent name in Glasgow and they DID contact people via trade exhibitions (food and drink.) They sold advertising space, printed a few hundred mags, but never distributed them. Here is a link to their ‘website’ which is just one page and looks very similar to a previous site. (If indeed my suspicions are correct.)

     http://www.blueline24.com/select/

     They answer the phone ‘Hello, Blue Line.’ Interesting that there is no contact info or anything.

142. 

     Jessica May 19th, 2011 at 15:03

     Here is another link to their main site, and guess what?? Their new address listed here is just a stones throw away from where the old company was based. Is this a coincedince???

     http://blueline24.com/

143. 

     Jayne June 14th, 2011 at 15:34

     Just received an invoice from CPA Media for £400 never heard of them, sent their invoice back with some nicely chosen words.

144. 

     emily June 17th, 2011 at 14:03

     Omg im glad im not the only one that this has happened too,ive just this second come off my phone to one saying that they are goin to take me off the calling list but first of all ive got to pay £499 im a small buisness. It upsets me to think that there are people out there who take joy out of taking money off people for nothing

145. 

     emily June 17th, 2011 at 14:12

     hey guys has any one heard of company called mosaic media,educational print,reflex,omg ive many many more

146. 

     emily June 17th, 2011 at 16:25

     ive got loads companies called mulitmedia based blackpool,abingdone house,practical pulication,peterson leigh,saftey planners,cpn design,uk link media,walford and james,educational print theres loads more these are just some of the few i have paid and lost sooooo much money how much of a fool do i feel and there sat in there little poxy office laughing all the way to the bank

147. 

     michelle willis June 21st, 2011 at 02:05

     I too have received phone calls from a company claiming that I agreed to advertise with them. i paid last year& was told that I wouldn’t be contacted again but today I was. They wanted me to pay £234. Last year I went without to pay them. I’ve never recieved anything from them but a demand for payments I haven’t agreed to. He called himself Edward stone & someone who didn’t give me his name called five minutes later from a really bad line. It sounded like the same guy. I should have been suspicious as there was no background noise. But as my daughter was screaming, i told him to send out the information & I would deal with it later. You can rest assured that I will not be paying them. They’ll be getting a stinking letter tomorrow!

148. 

     charlotte June 29th, 2011 at 14:19

     We have recieved a similar phone call from ‘ANDY STRINGFELLOW’ about police emergency suipport services magazine. Is this a scam also?

149. 

     Emma Julian June 30th, 2011 at 12:16

     Just got the call and being inquisitive looked it up on google, did not agree to anything luckily, just told him to send it all through via email and I will discuss with the board.

     We are a charity helping people living with disabilities around the south east, this just makes me sick scams like this, that sound so convincing. Luckily I have an untrusting mind in this instance.

     Will see what and if I get anything via email!!

150. 

     Jayne July 5th, 2011 at 14:10

     Just had a letter from CPA Media telling me that they are going to start Court Proceedings if I do not pay their invoice – Bring It On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

151. 

     David July 11th, 2011 at 12:29

     Hi,

     We are a small charity and have been scammed a lot by some of these companies last year until I realised what was going on.

     I have just had a phone call from an Alan Thornton, Chief Coordinator, RP Ltd saying I had agreed last November/December of which he claims to have a recording saying it is a drug awareness handbook as part of the local crime prevention campaign.

     Anyone heard of him or this company.

152. 

     Chris August 5th, 2011 at 15:09

     It seems as though we have been the target of the Vision – Class M8 – Foresters' Fund for Children scam as well. We've been advised by Trading Standards NOT TO PAY (under any circumstances). Trading Standards have told us to write a letter telling them that we won't be entering into any more correspondance with them and they should issue a summons if they have proof that we agreed to the ad.  According to Trading Standards they are sure Vision will not take us to court. But if they do, I agree with JAYNE… Bring It On!!!!!!!!!!
      

153. 

     Margie Vogel August 15th, 2011 at 14:21

     I am very confused right now as I have recently opened my shop and got a call from "the police" on my very busy opening day requesting I take out an add in the Crime Safety Journal which is a quarterly glossy magazine that has 50k prints sent out.  Apprently the funds raised from advertisers would be used to help fund the children awarness campaign on crime.  I was offered a 1/8 page add for the price of their 1/16 page for £125.00 excl VAT.  As I was extremely busy I asked them to send details to my email.  I have now received the artwork for the advert together with the invoice.  Now the calls have started with the request for bank details for payment and if I pay immediately I can get an extra 10% discount.  The reason the alarm bells rang was because I got a call from a lady this morning from the same publication and she was not aware that someone had already called me.  I have checked the publishing house details "Municipal Press Office" and their registration number seems genuine! Except they have only been registered since March 2011.  Now I am unsure if this is a scam or not?  Any comments / suggestions would be greatful.

154. 

     paul mcdowell August 23rd, 2011 at 10:22

     Hi Margie,
     Thats how all the scams start.  Pay them nothing and definitely do not give them any card or bank details.  You will probably start getting invoices from other companies that will say you have agreed to an advert.  If these people are genuine, you are entitled to know how many publications will be made and a complete distribution list.  You will probably recieve a call from someone who will 'remove' your details from the data bank which will result in more invoices coming in.
     Get your local trading standards officer involved.  Let him have copies of all invoices etc.  As most of these companies withold their numbers, get anonymouse caller blocking from your telephone provider.
     It will probably get worse before it gets better.  I had over a dozen companies harassing me.  There is nothing they can do to you, any threats of legal action are just hot air.

155. 

     Cath August 23rd, 2011 at 14:51

     We've had calls from Sarah Jones about advertising in a Fire Safety leaflet for children, and now somebody called Rachel is calling from Educare about leaflets. They say they have recorded evidence of our agreement from previous phone calls but we just tell them to go away and hang up.  Nothing received in the post yet.

156. 

     Des August 25th, 2011 at 14:19

     I was contacted today by Rita @ Temper Design (Manchester) who stated that my husband had agreed in January 2011 to advertise in the Crime Prevention publication.  Load of rubbish is what I told her, but this is how we were conned by Alexander & Sons in 2008 or 2009 for £250.00.  It is something I like to forget.  "Scummy" individuals!  I hit 1471 and the following number was given 0161 2362799.  This is the sencond call to our business this year.  Small business onwers, BEWARE!

157. 

     Fraser Hood September 7th, 2011 at 10:03

     Hi, I got a call from the same people as Margie today (Sept 7th) asking if I wanted to take out advert space in the Crime & Safety journal for Edinburgh going to 50k businesses throughout the city. It surprised me how cheap it was for the 12 months/4 issues and said I was interested but would like the details emailed to me. At this point the caller (didnt get his name) said he couldnt email me because he only worked on the phones getting 'Yes's or 'No's to advertsing space but could give me the web address (csjournal.co.uk) and would call back in 30 mins. Now having worked in the magazine trade with legimate ad sellers I know they record every conversation they have on a computer for future reference so this seemed odd. Checked out the website and found this thread, fully expect to get a 'bill' at some point. Is there anything I can do to prempt this ? Should I contact Trading Standards and give them my details before I recieve any invoice ? Thanks

158. 

     Leeanne September 14th, 2011 at 18:39

     Hello all,
     I work for a company who print both local and national publications. Due to the fact we live in an area where the drug use is sky high we are deciding to print a local drug awareness book, sponsored by local businesess. The difference is, is that it will not be a scam and WE WILL ACTUALLY (unlike lots of other companies) PRINT and distribute the publication through local schools at minimal cost. We are going to get some real life stories together from the local people about tradgedies just to really hit home with the youngsters of today. 
     I am distgusted to hear that their or so many dodgy companies out there after looking at all the comments on this site.
     Do you think this is a good idea if it is done ligitamately?? Its a shame their are so many scams out there as this could really help our community!
     We will not be asking rediculous amounts just small donations and will be meeting with all the local schools to do presentations and discuss the impact of our publication.
     Just want to hear thoughts on the matter really.
     Thanks

159. 

     Rob September 28th, 2011 at 16:14

     Just had a call from a scouser, "Steve Jackson" on 07856787139 using the above techniques, thanking me for my support and to claim I had placed an ad earlier in the year for £149 + vat, which he immediately dropped to £90 when I asked him to repeat how much! Asked him to go check with his admin dept and hung up, then sent him a text message to say I was going to Trading Standards in the morning and to let him know that he hadn't withheld his number! I'll just wait and see what happens next? Really getting peeved at all these scammers, I've only been in business since June 2011 and I've had about 8 of these phone calls to date!

160. 

     Vettski Cauton-Ellie October 4th, 2011 at 10:16

     He called himself Oliver James today, From the local police.
     My former colleague has since left the company and responsibilty for this will now fall to my manager. Unfortunatley he is far to busy to take calls ever. Interestingly Oliver didn't have any information he email and insisted he would just call back.
     Despite being a horrible little man, I can't wait to hear from him again now that I've seen this thread.

161. 

     lisa October 6th, 2011 at 19:17

     omg margie & fraser my business opened 2 weeks ago and i got the call on tuesday from the same company offering exactly the same, stupidly i agreed the amount was a good price they disconnected and said they would put me through to there design team,the design team stated the call was being recorded they told me the amount and were they ok to go ahead with the artwork again i stupidly said yes within 30 mins the advert was e.mailed to me along with an invoice asking me to pay by by cash directly into there account or by cheque.
     today i recieved exactly the same information by post asking me to pay within 14days,( i have not aggreed to the advert yet so why would i need an invoice yet?)
     this afternoon an advert went on twitter from notts police saying there is a crime prevention journal scam going around do not purchase !!! within 1hr i got a phonecall from the accounts department asking if i was happy with the artwork, i explained that i had seen this on twitter and was quite sceptical, he assured me they were genuine and directed me to there website ( which looked genuine) !!! i hasten to add this call was on a mobile ?????? but was calling from the office ???
     both the csjournel company and the design company were only registered in march '11 and are based in london ??
     feeling a little uneasy i contacted nottinghamshire police and they have taken all details and given me a crime reference number too
     i am very worried as i agrred in the phonecall that the amount was acceptable !! and if this is a scam i couldn't give a monkeys about not paying however if it is real and i refuse to pay what happens then ?????
     any advice would be great as i am a very new business and cannot afford to loose any money by going to court etc 

162. 

     lisa October 6th, 2011 at 19:19

     also worryingly  the accounts department rang me on my home phone ??? i never give this out but stupidly forgot to ask how they got hold of it !!?? they have said they will ring me back monday morning once i've eased my mind that the business is genuine !!! ??? 

163. 

     Richard Thomas October 7th, 2011 at 11:13

     Have recieved  a call today from Steve Jackson mobile 07856787139 saying thank you for supporting their magazine "Community Safety", which I did not. He said my advert would be in the Margate edition and be sent to all the GP's and Schools etc. When I said I had not contacted them or agreed any advert in a  "Thanet" magazine he seemed unaware that Margate is part of a larger  area of Kent, alarm bells ring etc. I told him thank you and I wasn't interested as by order book was full to the end of the year and did not need to advertise.I shall also send these details to Trading standards in Maidstone.

164. So the business scams begin after 118 listing first a Crime Safety Scam. « Sweeney iT October 17th, 2011 at 15:28

     [...] First call was from a company claiming to be working for the police creating a crime safety journal. They are quite slick and told me I would be the only iT consultant in the brochure. A 1/4 space for £245 and 1/8 space for £145. I then receive a call from their Advertising designers and immediately an email (shown below). They insist that the call is recorded and that the space is now confirmed. see http://www.adscams.co.uk/crime-prevention-booklet [...]

165. 

     Sean October 17th, 2011 at 21:11

     First – Great thread – and very useful and helpful for people.
     Hi I got the call today, oddly enough after my free listing was confirmed by 118 today. Ah well one must expect the vultures too.
     I knew it was a scam but not by whom, so I went throught the motions and then as always did the background research … and I found you guys and ladies. Nice to know I can still spot em.
     It is basically the same stuff but different company, a website on maintenance and a design company website straight from the templates. I went along with them just to gain proof and also  the email header 
     Return-Path: <bounced@municipalpo.co.uk>
     Delivered-To: sean@mymail.com
     Received: from Postfix filter 42a77884ce2a0a03efc6bb50a6dcdb21 (localhost [127.0.0.1])
     by smtp-in-75.livemail.co.uk (Postfix) with SMTP id E7C696540AC
     for <sean@mymail.com>; Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:32:40 +0100 (BST)
      
     I have the email content and the really crappy design work here … http://sweeneyit.com/index.php/archives/1261
     It is my own blog so don't visit it unless you are really interested in seeing the content and judging whether it is the same as you have received. I have forwarded the content to Strathclyde fraud squad as being in Scotland they are now subject to Scottish law as I am in posession of their communication, I also forwarded the content to Crimestoppers.
      
     Thanks for the great article and it is very easy to see how they con people. But hopefully with more of us passing on the experience it will be fewer and fewer. 
      
     Kindest regards to you all,
      
     Sean
      

166. EcoContact – Eco Contact – Part of the Municipal Press Office Ltd Crime Safety Scam « Sweeney iT October 24th, 2011 at 11:13

     [...] http://www.adscams.co.uk/crime-prevention-booklet [...]

167. 

     Chris October 26th, 2011 at 20:35

     I first got a call from a "police officer" telling me about advertising space in a "crime & safety journal" I went for it so I could get more information. After initial phone call and a second and thrird confirming and artwork call, I recieved a confirming email from Municipal Press Office Ltd. Couple days later I recieve a copy of the invoice by post and some clipart artwork. I also recieved an identical invoice and artwork from a company called Safety Information Press, who also have a WIRRAL address, when questioned about why I recieved 2 invoices from different companies their responce was Municipal are the sister company!!
     Long and short is no money was paid and when threatened with court action all of a sudden they were willing to tear up my invoice and forget about it!…. Suprise suprise.
     So beware of anything from Municipal Press Office or Safety Information Press!
     Both apear to be the same scammers, even using what seem like legit websites etc.

168. 

     BERYL HUGHES October 31st, 2011 at 20:55

     I hav e been scammed by RPD which is River Park Media which has been reported to Trading Standards,City of London Police /Action Fraud and local police.  They sell the details on once you pay and I now have a CPA Media harassing but I am aware now and am not going to pay. I have had three telephone calls this week from a witheld number. It all stems from the Liverpool ,Wirral  and Manchester area and I can see from all the websites I have since found like this one that this has been going on since 2009.
      It needs mass publicity to stop it I think. There are so many of us  why cannot we do do something?
      
      

169. 

     carl November 8th, 2011 at 13:09

     had a call 10 minutes ago and got supicios, said from police. And babbbled on about roguet traders..was realli selling magazine adverts..managed mto extract these numbers tho. Maibe of use
     07575752044
     08005577727
     Exuse spelling.mobile phone keys dying..it could be legit…but i dont think so

170. 

     Duncan November 9th, 2011 at 00:07

     I have had a call from companies on the Wirall, about so call EMS campaigns.. all were fraud..
     They have a company called SKYLINE, who through further investigation are in legal wrangles in India as they are an Indian company.. Also there is no record of them on Company's House register.
     Once you inform Trading Standards, and get a police crime number your sorted.. Let them know and they will stop.
      
     It's a shame I didn't know about this earlier this year as it cost me £2.5K.. still trying to get my money back..
     Also found that the shown number used is a SKYPE number.. once you find out the supplier of the number from OFCOM, phone the supplier up and reprt them. The number will be cut off..:)
     Do not answer withheld nembers.. make sure you say on your answer machine that with held numbers will not be answered. So all those who leave messages are worthy of your time..

171. 

     P Atkins November 22nd, 2011 at 13:35

     Very intresting all these advertising scam calls, we are not alone! We have had more calls than i am able to list here.  And quite frankly i am sick of it they call me a liar when i say that we have not agreed to these campains and point out that the first that i have heard of there company is an invoice through the post. Yet when i question them (if i can get a word in) regarding lack of thing ie a real phone number i am slandering them! The last guy i spoke to even gave me the last 4 digits of our debit card as a referance, which we would never have handed out as a referance. This card was destroyed in late August due to fraudient use by another one of these companies

172. 

     Gemma November 24th, 2011 at 13:44

     Thank goo ness for this website! I have just come off the phone from one of this pigs and I am still shaking with fury.
     I had two phone calls in the Summer not long after I had opened my shop from someone claiming to be from a Crime Prevention Booklet. The first caller asked if I wanted to advertise in their publication and I said no as I am on a tight budget and had advertised elsewhere recently. The second caller stated they were from a Drug Awareness Publication and asked if I wanted to advertise with them, I again said no as I don't have the money.
     I then received a call last week from a women telling me that the publications have been printed and are ready for distribution so we need to settle the account of £149. I told her immediately that I had not agreed to this and she would not receive any payment from me. She hung up. 
     The next day a had a call from a different woman asking me which local school I would like the publication to go. I asked her why I needed to choose as School as I had nothing to do with the publication and she said that we had agreed to advertised and we need to pay £189. I told her that she would not receive any money from me as I had not agreed to this. She hung up.
     I have now just received a call from 'Nigel Foster' who said that he was ringing me to settle my account and that it was well over due. I again explained that I have never agreed to advertise with them, I am on a budget and I know exactly what I have agreed to and I have never received any written information confirming an agreement. He told me that he had a recording of my confirmation phone call and that the printed advert was in front of him. I said that I would like to hear that recording and I said how on earth can you have a printed advert when I haven't sent you any images, logos or business details. He then described the informaiton that he had and the image and I laughed and said he has taken that from my website. 
     So he then went on to tell me that I will receive a letter and if I do not pay within 7 days then they will take me to court. I told him that I would see him in court as I have not agreed to this. He basically scoffed at me and said how can I afford to go to court but not pay the account. I told him that I will not be bullied in to somehing that I have not agreed to. I took his name, number, company name and asked for his website. He told me they didn't have a website.
     I have spoken to trading standards and they have advised to write to the company to request a recording of the phone call and any other proof that I have entered in to the agreement. They must do this within 7 days and if they contact me for any other reason than to provide this proof then it can be construed as harrassment. They told me that if I have not agreed to this and they can not provide proof that I did then I do not have to pay it.
     So the company name is 'Sanchez', the caller was called 'Nigel Foster' and the phone number is 0151 789785 which doesn't work by the way and I can't find anything on google.
     These people are scum bags. In this economic climate when small business are struggling as it is I think it is disgusted. what a lowlife

173. 

     rachel December 1st, 2011 at 10:51

     HI ALL
     WE RUN A CARE AGENCY AND YES WE ARE VICTIMS OF ALL THESE SCAMS, OUR LATEST IS ON THE BELL MAGAZINE CONSTANT PHONE CALLS AND THE INVOICE LOOKS GOOD BUT WE REFUSE TO PAY. LAST PHONE CALL WAS YESTERDAY AND WHAT A CALL IT WAS THE LADY ASKED TO SPEAK TO MY DAD WHO IS THE OWNER USUALLY I WOULD TAKE THE CALL BUT I THOUGHT NOT AGAIN!!!!!!!!! SHE GOT VERY VOCAL AND SO DID MY DAD HE CALLED HER A CON WOMEN AND ALL SHE REPLIED WAS SHE WOULD TAKE US TO COURT THE PHONE CALL ENDED WITH HER PUTTING THE PHONE DOWN. IT IS A REAL JOKE WE DID INFACT PAY FOR THE CRIME PREVENTION ONE BUT IF ANYONE HAS A CONTACT NUMBER FOR THIS ONE I WOULD LOVE IT SO I CAN GIVE THEM A NICE CALL. THE OTHER IS SAS MEDIA LTD THEY HAVE SENT AN INVOICE FOR £250 FIRE AND SAFETY LOL.  

174. 

     Brian Waite December 6th, 2011 at 13:47

     Hi All,
      
     They caught me out at the start with the police magazine which i paid.  I have since had 15 calls about various magazines…conversation usually starts with "are you busy or i bet you could do with some help, we all could".  They then get on to thank you for booking the ad in Crime Awareness magazine which is doing really well and to take payment for the slot you booked back in September.  They even say do you remember the phone call?…..well i have a good memory and know what is booked and what isn't.
     I have two calls recently to say they have the advert which i agreed to and my signature is on the back and also to say they have it recorded and will send a transcript to prove I'm a liar…..honestly that is their words.
     I have refused payment and will never pay again it just annoys me that i was caught out by thinking i was supporting the police magazine.
     I can't understand how these people haven't been on Watchdog yet.
      
     remember be vigilant and if you suspect you are being asked for advertising you haven't booked then in all probability you haven't.

175. 

     someguy December 11th, 2011 at 20:56

     @sandybullivant
     Against the law to record someone without consent. 90% of reps would know this and call you out on it.
     See I read two comments and I'm off.
      
     @all of you
      
     I work for one of the few companies that actually hold a contract for the police. We never cross pitch, always generate new clients from scratch and have hundreds of police officers that can back up what we do. All the proof in the world at hand to pass on straight away.
     Do we ever get asked ??NO, do we get all the abuse under god damned sun by people like you? YES Some of the things that have been said to me over the phone by business owners are actually disgusting. Really dashed my belief in the integrity of successful people. My job is to protect kids from criminals and promote child welfare and I am treated like dirt every day by ignorant idiots. 

176. 

     natalie wilson December 19th, 2011 at 18:31

     After reading the above I now have alarm bells! they phoned saying they were sending me a fire prevention calender free in the post and what my contact details were , then they hung off so I didn't have time to get their tel number .
     I get a phonecall 2 days letter asking if we received the calender with the advert I had apparently agreed to – which I hadn't agreed to and there was no calender. I said this to her and told her to cancel this fictious order I had placed and do not proceed with anything,she then hung again quickly so I was unable to get her details.
     We have now received an invoice dated 13.12.11 for £195 claiming we have 7 days to cancel the advert from date of invoice , so that gives us 1 day to do this.
     As there are contact details on the invoice I have sent a letter recorded delivery cancelling it , I have emailed them (heard nothing back) and also phoned them. I spoke to the same lady on the phone ,when quizzed why she sent me an invoice when I canceled it she said I know I canceled it , when I asked her to put it in writing she told me she wouldn't -immediate alarm bells !! I have now contacted trading standards about this .
      
      
      

177. 

     paul mcdowell December 21st, 2011 at 12:13

     To Someguy,
     If you let the good people using this forum know which company you work for, you might get some nice replies.  Everyone using this site is either being conned out of money now or have been in the recent past.

178. 

     Lee January 10th, 2012 at 21:21

     Had a phone call from similar jokers today and realised it was a scam after the woman on the phone was clearly reading from a sheet when i gave negative answers so hung up and then had to put them off all afternoon even though I have had around 15 phone calls from them. I am looking forward to having a pleasant chat tomorrow about this page and how I am going to widely publicise it to all my friends and if they wish me to pay they need to stop withholding numbers and give me a real address so I can pop down and have a chat face to face whilst accompanied by a policeman and trading standards hehe

179. 

     Paul January 15th, 2012 at 17:06

     Hi, has anyone heard of a company called Windows Media offering the same type of thing in the Crime Aware Booklet & Community Safety Journal? Just had an invoice through after talking to someone last week, it has a proof etc for the Ad and they have issued us a login to make alterations. All looks very professional. The letter head has telephone numbers & a London address.
     Please does anyone know if this is a scam also?
     Many thanks
     Paul

180. 

     Sammo January 17th, 2012 at 18:01

     My parents and I run a small rural village pub. Last year when they were on holiday I was tidying up some loose invoices for my Dad and paid one of them. Within the next four weeks four more bogus companies popped up demanding money and we had some blazing arguments over the phone. The companies involved are Kids Safe Uk and Ireland, National Printing Solutions, Appleton Smith Media, Wilson Haynes and the latest one we have had through is Uk-Safety-Advice. They are currently demanding money for the fake booklet. They give a website address at the bottom of the invoice but funnily enough it doesn't exist. Other common mistakes include very poor grammar and punctuation. We got the police involved and they were great upto a point and then just gave up! So looks like we are going to have to fight this on our own. Keep posting people to stop these bastards. I read that one older lady who ran a shop on her own was conned out of over £1000, absolutely disgusting.

181. 

     JohnyT January 24th, 2012 at 23:45

     Ive posted this on another site but thought I should share with you guys here:

      
     Hello I found this forum today after searching Google and let me tell you a sad but true story.
     Back in September 2011 I received a phone call from a friendly chap who claimed to be working on behalf of the police. I was asked if I would be interested in advertising with the Crime & Safety Journal. He explained that they were looking to print and distribute 55,000 copies in my local area and asking a very reasonable price with a further 10% discount if I acted soon. As at the time I had only recently started to go self employed it seemed like an opportunity not to be missed. I paid for the advert and was told the publication would be released sometime in November. All the correspondence I received was handled by The Municipal Press Office and with the artwork all done and approved it seemed like a professional job.

     Some time early in November I was contacted by the same friendly chap asking about the advert that I placed in the Fire Safety Journal . I politely told him he must be confused as it was the Crime & Safety Journal I had paid to advertise in. He apologised but asked as we were talking about it would I like to advertise in that publication too. Again offering me what seemed an amazing deal with yet another discount. I said "yes I'll give the Fire journal a go." While he was there I asked when the Crime journal I had already paid for would be coming. He explained that they were still crossing the T's and dotting the I's and it would now be in December. Though the correspondence I received was now being handled by a company called Windows Media. I didn't question it at the time and assumed they had outsourced the work to a 3rd party company.

     Come the middle of January I was starting to wonder if these publications would ever be released so I decided to Google The Crime & Safety Journal. I was shocked to find many websites with many more people complaining that they had been taken in by this scam. So without letting on that I had read these complaints I decided to give these Windows Media people a call. I started off by asking why had I been given letters and emails from two different company names. He told me that they were well within their right to change their company name. I then proceeded to ask why are these companies named after the Municipal offices and Microsoft's windows media player was this to mislead people? He told me that this was a decision made by a board of directors and accused me of shouting at him. As he claimed they were working on behalf of the police I asked if I could have the contact details of the police department they were liaising with. He refused to tell me as he feared I would be abusive to them. Yeah right as if would be abusive to the police. At that point it was clear I had hit a nerve and any further question I asked was answered with him accusing me of being a nuisance. He did however say to rest any doubt they would send me a copy of each of the publications I had advertised in.

     The next day I received an email saying that the magazines were in the post and that I could track them with Royal Mail. So I entered the tracking numbers into Royal Mails website. And there was the conformation that they had been sent on the 21/01/2012 from their branch at 29-31 Market Street CH41 5BS, which is in Birkenhead. Not in London as per their letterhead. Now absolutely convinced this company was a scam I made a call to the police headquarters in Dorset. I explained everything to their enquires office and after they had conversed with their supervisor I was told that the police will never ask any company to advertise in any of their publications and nor would they entertain such a publication in any of their stations across the UK. The police must remain neutral and is against their practice to even recommend the AA if you broke down for example. They recorded my complaint including all their contact info and bank details and I was given a crime reference number.

     Yesterday I was surprised to see in my letterbox copies of the publications Windows Media had sent. They came in clear shrink wrapped plastic with a hand written label with my address on it. You would think a printing company would at least have and address label printer especially if they are sending out oh so many of them. I unwrapped the plasic and oh my god I wish you could see them. The quality of the print is terrible the layout was just laughable and the content was obviously a complete copy and paste job. So much for crossing the T's and dotting the I's. I could have done a better job with my £150 laser printer. I was intrigued to see what the 10 other companies (yes only 10 between both publications) that advertised had to say about Windows Media.

     Well this was very interesting 4 of them told me that they had never paid for the advertising and had received threatening letters from windows media that they just ignored. Yet their ads still featured! Just making up the numbers I guess. One of them told me they had paid for advertising well over a year ago but mentioned a journal of a different name. They had a similar story to mine, paid good money for a pack of lies and nothing else. It was the same story with all the other companies I contacted. This morning I met with one of them so I could show them the publications. He was shocked at the bad quality and the fact that the ad he paid for was not in the style that was agreed. He also let me have a look at the letter threatening legal action after he forgot to send a cheque initially.

     This afternoon I contacted trading standards who told me they've had many similar complaints from others and are looking into it. Everyone who also paid money to Windows Media that I've spoken to will be making complaints also. They were all very supportive and some even willing to go as far as court.

     I gave Windows Media one last call today to demand my money back. Of course I was fed a load of tripe and told never to contact them again.
     I would like to finish with these questions to Windows Media:

     Windows Media, I know you're not, but if you think you are genuine why hide so much?
     Why the forwarding address in London?
     Why not tell us your real address? In this climate you would think a company would be screaming out this is where we are and this is what we do! You sell advertising so you know best obviously.
     Why not tell what departments of tax payers institution you are liaising with?
     Why only 5-6 ads in each publication? Surely that's not going to cover the cost of manufacturing and distributing 55,000 copies. I don't work for a printing firm what do I know eh? (a personal dig that)
     Why such threatening letters to those who don't pay within a couple of weeks?
     Are these reports of you editing recorded phone conversations to mislead people true?
     Why are there sooo many mistakes on your crimeaware.org website and why is it so out of date? I'm no words worth but Christ look at the state of it.
     Did this smear campaign you bang on about really loose you £200,000 like I was told on the phone?
     Why lie mislead and cheat so much? You've been caught out! you're a fraud and everyone here knows it. Do the right thing and give us our money back!

     On a very last note while I've been typing this my friend here's been on Google and discovered that every last word of the articles printed in the Fire & Safety publication has been copy and pasted from this website in the USA: safetyresource.org ,so I guess they really never were crossing the T's and dotting the I's.

182. 

     jonny February 22nd, 2012 at 15:31

     Hi guys, I have recenty Just received a call from a company requesting i pay £2995 for an advert in there publication, There called Bumyamam print… has anyone heard of them as i havent agreed to this

183. 

     illnevercomeback February 23rd, 2012 at 23:25

     havent bothered reading the whole page, but just to let everyone know, if it hasnt already been said.
     agreeing to something over the phone is not legally binding. it has to be confirmed in writing, via email or post. 
      
     dont argue this fact because it is true. if they say you agreed to something over the phone, tell them to send you the signed copy in writing… then hang up.

184. 

     Gas Service Engineers March 2nd, 2012 at 14:04

      
     Hi – Yet another warning of this scam, Received a phone call this morning from a lady whom seemed to know me very well ? Referred to a verbal aggrement in November to place an advert in the Staffordshire Crime Prevention Magazine, the magazine was ready to be distributed, as they were a charitable organisation no vat or tax was payable and needed to pay £199.00 or it was possible to pay by instalments if we were unable to pay in one go. As we agreed a one off advert our details would be removed from their data base.
     We have helped charites in the past so for a minute I thought we could of possibly agreed to do this but as my father was dying in November I couldn't remember the conversation, I then said I couldn't remember a proof of the advert and if the magazine was to be sent out they must have done a print run, when I said again I haven't approved what you can print she hanged up the phone. 
     I couldn't believe it, did a quick search & found this thread, I also did 1471 the number was withheld, these people need to be stopped, people are going to get caught out with this & pay money for adverts that don't exist and using a charity as a scam it's only going to harm genuine charities, who is doing anything about this ?