Saturday, August 26
Scam
I recently became victim of a publishing scam, I’ll explain.
One morning while busy working I received a call on my mobile from someone claiming to have been given my number from a trade organization that I belong to, also that he represented a community awareness drug programme for Wiltshire, England. He claimed they would be sending anti-drug posters to local schools and running a website with lots of useful drug awareness information. It sounded convincing but as with all cold calls like this I suggested that he put something in the post for me to look at. "Ok but will you agree to donate £25 to have your details listed as one of our sponsors?" Maybe I said. Five minutes later another call from another scammer just to confirm my address and asking if I will pay the invoice for £25+VAT. I'm busy working so just say "yes".
Once I’d had time to take in the calls in it did seem as if there was something wrong.
A few days later I receive an amateurish certificate, a couple of A4 sized posters, a letter thanking me for my kind donation and the invoice. NOT SURE I AGREED TO PAY AN INVOICE!
I decide to ignore the invoice and just wait and see what would happen. Soon I started to receive requests for payment, answerphone messages, letters and on one occasion a call to my mobile but when they asked for me I pretended I was someone else. (Cunning eh..)
Here’s the letter that I finally sent them.
Dear Sirs
Before I decide whether to pay your invoice it would be helpful if you would provide me with a written response to the questions listed below.
1) Please supply a list of all the schools in Wiltshire that have received your posters so that I can contact the schools concerned seeking confirmation that they have indeed received them and are displaying them?
2) Why does your website contain no original content, merely a copy of the rather old Health Education Authority publication “A Parents' Guide to Drugs and Solvents” which can be found elsewhere on the internet?
3) The website is not local nor is it unique to Wiltshire as indicated during your call to me and in your letter dated 6th March 2006, in which you specifically mentioned that you were Wiltshire Community Awareness. Exactly the same website relates to most counties in the country. Please explain how this is “local”.
4) Why haven’t Wiltshire Health Promotion heard of you?
5) I was told that my name would be added to a list of sponsors but the list, if it exists, is password protected, so not available to the public. Can you explain the reasoning behind this?
6) Why does the website not appear to be listed in internet search engines, which is odd if you are really trying to promote drug awareness?
7) Can you please supply evidence that I ever agreed to sponsor your programme.
I look forward to receiving your written response in the near future. I am not prepared to call you on your premium rate number as you do not indicate call charges. I am very busy so don’t contact me other than by post.
They seem to have cleared off now but I did have a call from someone offering to put my name in a phone book I’d never heard of, I JUST SAID "NO NO NO!" ¶ Saturday, August 26, 2006
I recently became victim of a publishing scam, I’ll explain.
One morning while busy working I received a call on my mobile from someone claiming to have been given my number from a trade organization that I belong to, also that he represented a community awareness drug programme for Wiltshire, England. He claimed they would be sending anti-drug posters to local schools and running a website with lots of useful drug awareness information. It sounded convincing but as with all cold calls like this I suggested that he put something in the post for me to look at. "Ok but will you agree to donate £25 to have your details listed as one of our sponsors?" Maybe I said. Five minutes later another call from another scammer just to confirm my address and asking if I will pay the invoice for £25+VAT. I'm busy working so just say "yes".
Once I’d had time to take in the calls in it did seem as if there was something wrong.
A few days later I receive an amateurish certificate, a couple of A4 sized posters, a letter thanking me for my kind donation and the invoice. NOT SURE I AGREED TO PAY AN INVOICE!
I decide to ignore the invoice and just wait and see what would happen. Soon I started to receive requests for payment, answerphone messages, letters and on one occasion a call to my mobile but when they asked for me I pretended I was someone else. (Cunning eh..)
Here’s the letter that I finally sent them.
Dear Sirs
Before I decide whether to pay your invoice it would be helpful if you would provide me with a written response to the questions listed below.
1) Please supply a list of all the schools in Wiltshire that have received your posters so that I can contact the schools concerned seeking confirmation that they have indeed received them and are displaying them?
2) Why does your website contain no original content, merely a copy of the rather old Health Education Authority publication “A Parents' Guide to Drugs and Solvents” which can be found elsewhere on the internet?
3) The website is not local nor is it unique to Wiltshire as indicated during your call to me and in your letter dated 6th March 2006, in which you specifically mentioned that you were Wiltshire Community Awareness. Exactly the same website relates to most counties in the country. Please explain how this is “local”.
4) Why haven’t Wiltshire Health Promotion heard of you?
5) I was told that my name would be added to a list of sponsors but the list, if it exists, is password protected, so not available to the public. Can you explain the reasoning behind this?
6) Why does the website not appear to be listed in internet search engines, which is odd if you are really trying to promote drug awareness?
7) Can you please supply evidence that I ever agreed to sponsor your programme.
I look forward to receiving your written response in the near future. I am not prepared to call you on your premium rate number as you do not indicate call charges. I am very busy so don’t contact me other than by post.
They seem to have cleared off now but I did have a call from someone offering to put my name in a phone book I’d never heard of, I JUST SAID "NO NO NO!" ¶ Saturday, August 26, 2006
