Charity Scammers ...

[Ruthierhyme]

Having read a first hand experience of a fellow forumer... I thought our visitors might like this information on a bout of cold calling scammers claiming to be working on behalf of a charity !

The telephone call basically involves a request for confirmation of bank details so that payment can be made for a 'previously agreed' (untrue) donation amount or for payment of an advertisement that 'has' (untrue) been published in a magazine/newspaper etc.

These Ads are ficticious and the arrangements are a scam.. and whilst the scammers are targetting smaller businesses at the moment .. we felt everyone should be aware of what is going on just incase tactics are altered !!!

The following quote was copied from here - dti.gov.uk/cib/publishing_scams.htm
(Due to a reorganisation this information isn't available on the DTI website at present)

Danger Signs

Be very wary of anyone cold calling you asking you to place an advertisement in a Wall Planner, Diary, Children’s Fun Book, Drug Awareness Book, Magazine for Emergency Services Personnel, Guide or other publication.

They usually claim to be calling on behalf of or associated with a charity who will receive a donation or free books for resale. Alternatively they may be claiming to be from one of the emergency services or promising to distribute their magazine to an audience such as off duty emergency services personnel.

Taken from the dti.gov page ~ so please be sure to let your Chairpersons, treasurer and other committee members know so that they won't think someone else arranged the false claim and end up paying !!

Yes weve had a few claiming to be police forum etc. The minute you challenge them about which station they are from and their rank etc. they soon put the phone down.NEVER GIVE YOUR DETAILS OVER THE PHONE.

[Ruthierhyme]

Very annoying to put it mildly :gnasher: !!
What sort of things are they asking Patsy - just wondering what phoning and claiming to be the Police would achieve them.

Claiming to work for the police and their benevolant fund.Asking if you wish to put anything into their magazine etc.We usually stop them before they get that far having learnt the speal from the first call.

[Chloe]

Is there not a number you can call to stop all these phone calls?will check it out!

you can call telephone preference service and they will stop junk calls getting through and if any do get through you can report them to them and they get stopped.
we have it at home and rearely get calls these days, which is great
you have to call your provider and they send you a form to fill in.
What is TPS?

The UK's Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a central opt out register whereby individuals and consumers can register their wish not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing telephone calls. It is a legal requirement that companies do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS.

The original legislation was introduced in May 1999. It has subsequently been updated and now the relevant legislation is the Privacy and Electronic (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

Registration is free of charge and is open to UK consumers at their residential address, sole traders and, except in Scotland, partnerships. Once a number has been registered it will become effective in 28 days.

The Telephone Preference Service is not government funded and is paid for by the direct marketing industry

[Chloe]

We used to be ex Directory so never had any of these calls but since moving here every day from window glazing to new kitchens,mobile phones,insurance the list is endless but will get it stopped once we get back! Even been asked if I would have a student (free) that was a e mail! do they think I am made of money! :rotfl:

no Miss Chloe,they think you make it.My supply is rapidly running out,please send replenishments.lol

ooh I had one of these. Didn't know it was a scam until now, but I stopped them part way through their spiel abd told them a) I am registered with the TPS and b) I don't pay for advertising.

[Ruthierhyme]

Updated this thread as the DTI.gov.uk has just reorganised their website and the info isn't there anymore !!

Off to hunt it down ....