Warning to Small Businesses

Warning to Small Businesses
Carmarthenshire Trading Standards Services is warning businesses about the risk of falling victim to publishing scams.

Traders throughout the UK have been targeted by rogue ‘publishers’ who use telesales techniques to try to sell advertising space in various publications such as yearbooks, wall planners/calendars or local guides. Some have told businesses that local schools or charities will benefit from drugs awareness or crime prevention booklets.

Traders have been quoted anywhere between £100 and £1,000, depending on the size of the advert. Unfortunately in many cases, nothing is produced at all or if they are, only a few sample copies are printed and sent to the business for approval. However, these are not circulated in sufficient numbers, or in the right area, to be of any practical benefit to the advertisers.

Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds said: “Although there are genuine companies that offer such publishing services, we would advise any local trader that is contacted by anyone offering to sell advertising space, to carry out some research before agreeing to enter into a contract, especially over the telephone.

“Bank details should not be given in any circumstances. Prevention is always better than cure as businesses will often be unable to reclaim any money lost.”

Executive Board Member for Public Protection, Councillor Pam Palmer said “There are a number of other business-related scams that have been seen, including bogus demand letters for goods that have not been ordered, Data Protection Registration services and Heath & Safety Registration services for example.

“The publishing companies involved in these scams often rely on the fact that people running small businesses are often so busy that they will simply pay an invoice that come in, without fully querying it.”

A comprehensive guide to help protect small businesses from such scams has been compiled by Trading Standards Services and any business within Carmarthenshire who would like a copy can contact the team on 01267 234567 or email tradingstandards@carmarthenshire.gov.uk