Scams reveal pubs' openness to fraud
A trading standards boss has called for pubs to get more protection against scammers who claim to be selling ads in magazines for emergency services.
About 30 bogus companies operate at any one time and can make millions by duping businesses, according to John Malone, trading standards manager at Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
The MA has again been receiving calls about scammers who cold-call pubs claiming to be selling ads in emergency services publications.
Hosts have complained about receiving demands for payment when they have not agreed to take ads. Malone said some firms use debt collectors - often the scammers themselves - to retrieve money they say is owed.
Some of the fraudsters have been wound-up by the Department of Trade & Industry but Malone said cases are difficult to prove because the telephone conversations are not recorded.
He called for new powers to protect businesses against scammers.
Unlike consumers, businesses can not take civil action using the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations.
These allow trading standards to take an injunction in court against companies that make false claims about services they provide.
Malone said: "When it comes to protecting small businesses by looking at legislation and offering support, they Government don't seem to want to know."
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