Action on pub scams

New national "Scambuster" teams are to target rogue firms that con pubs.

The Government is investing £7.5m in the specialist trading standards officers who will work with police across council boundaries to catch scammers. The money will fund Scambusters until 2011.

So far the pilot Scambuster programme, which began in 2006, has focused on cons effecting householders.

But in an exclusive MA interview, Scambusters project manager Steve Playal said: "We are planning to widen our remit in the next few months.

"There's no reason why we won't get involved when small businesses are being ripped off. I will certainly be pushing to get business-type scams included".

Playal said: "Rogue traders do not respect local authority boundaries and this funding will make a real difference in catching the rogues,

wherever they operate."

The Government said that Scambusters pilot teams have saved consumers about £3m, seized £2m worth of assets from rogue firms, and uncovered about £16m worth of fraud.

Norfolk host Carole Gransden said she has been targeted by one of the most popular scams that involve pubs - bogus publications for good causes.

The licensee of the Great Danes Country Inn, at Beachamwell, said: "I get people phoning me saying they are the local fire brigade or the local police station or the local RAF Base.

"In fact, they are publishing companies trying to sell advertising space in a diary

or some other publication featuring local services on the front."

This week the Government advice service Consumer Direct launched a new on-line facility for logging details of scams. Visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/watch-out/scams or call 08454 040506.

If you have been the victim of a scam, let us know. Call 01293 610481 or email john.harrington@william-reed.co.uk