Maidenhead & Windsor

Businesses and schools across Windsor and Maidenhead are being warned of an advertising con that aims to get cash for non-existent publications.

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough's trading standards service says that businesses are receiving unsolicited phone calls – claiming they are from the police and asking for support for a crime prevention initiative. What the callers are really doing is getting the businesses' details so that the scammers can send an invoice for an advert in a non-existent publication. If they are challenged, they will say they had agreement by phone.

Two Maidenhead schools have been targeted – in both cases the rogues called to thank them for their participation in a police crime prevention campaign. Fortunately the schools were aware of such scams and, knowing they had not agreed to an advert, asked the caller for his phone number and company details. At that he got aggressive and put the phone down.

A spokesperson from one of the Windsor and Maidenhead schools, said: "Over the years these scams raise their heads from time to time, looking for support for fire, ambulance, police, local hospitals etc. We know they have been investigated by the police and trading standards in the past. Thankfully our system ensures we don't get caught, but many others do!"

Windsor and Maidenhead Trading standards are offering the following advice to businesses and schools:

* ensure you get details of the deal in writing before agreeing to anything
* make sure all advertising is approved by one central person within your organisation (that way businesses cannot be fooled into thinking they need to pay an invoice for an advert placed by someone elsewhere in the organisation)
* you have a legal right to know the identity of the company with which you are potentially entering into a contract
* remind staff to be careful in their choice of words when speaking on the phone to salesmen to avoid any subsequent argument over whether or not an agreement was made (there are cases when the salesperson has recorded conversations to prove that someone in the organisation agreed to the advert).

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways, transport and environment, said: "These unscrupulous companies will stop at nothing to get your agreement to place an advert. In the current economic climate I am sure there will be more scams around. These people can be very convincing and difficult to say no to. It's a good idea to ask them for a copy of their publication before agreeing to place any advertising. In my experience if you do this they normally put the phone down!

"The messages to businesses are clear - always check who you are dealing with and don't agree to anything over the phone. If it seems too good to be true, chances are it is!"

New laws to protect businesses from misleading adverts came into force May 2008. Windsor and Maidenhead Trading standards is inviting businesses to report their bad experiences so that the scammers can be stopped. Call 01628 683802 or email trading.standards@rbwm.gov.uk

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead