Scamsters besiege pubs

Pubs are being besieged by bogus calls over advertising space as scamsters use increasingly sneaky techniques to catch publicans out.

Since launching Scamwatch Month in last week's issue, The Publican has been contacted by a fresh batch of licensees who have been hit by the con.

The companies telephone the pub, offering advertisements for magazines for emergency services, or drug awareness booklets for schools.

Publicans say they are continually receiving four or five calls a week from such companies.

Many pay up believing they are supporting the local community, while in some cases the company says the licensee has already agreed to the adverts.

Heather Wilkins, licensee at the Kingfisher Hotel in Staloum, Norfolk, said: "They are clever because they often say that it has been agreed by someone else at the pub.

"We've never had anything to show us that we have appeared in the magazines. But we've been threatened with not paying the invoices."

At the Shobdon Aeroclub bar, near Leominster, Herefordshire, licensee Andy Hart has been targeted by a similar scheme.

A company claiming to represent the "joint emergency services" contacted Andy. He did not agree to advertise, but was sent a copy of the magazine with an advert for his company in and an invoice for £110.

"I was plagued with phone calls and they got more aggressive in nature," he said. "I'm not the sort to put up with this kind of thing, but I'm sure some people would just give in and agree to pay."

A spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses said he was aware of similar scams.

In terms of advice for pubs, he said: "You should never agree to anything over the telephone.

"The best thing to do is say you are busy and tell them you'll call them back. You just have to be wary that most scams work on the basis that there is a verbal agreement."

Let us know if you've been a victim of a scam by emailing scam@thepublican.com or calling 020 7955 3714.