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| Original Message Added : 24 May 2012 They are quite aggressive and I have found them mentioned on other foums. it seems as if they use new listings on free index as a source to cold call. have reported them to Trading Standards and the Fraud Office but they are still out there. They like to call you on your mobile. BEWARE
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| Reply : 26 May 2012 They record certain conversations & use these to intimidate one to paying - also they do not send out invoices & threaten legal action & £40 in late charges for something I do not want I will take them to court for breach of infringement of my copyright as they have copied images & sent me some poor excuse for a layout & the info is incorrect I too will be contacting trading standards & the fraud office as it illegal to imitate the police & say "you a phoning from the Met Police press office"
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Reply : 28 May 2012
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| Reply : 28 May 2012 C.P. does not appear to be a registered company - nor does any of their correspondence indicate that they trade under any legitimate company They do NOT appear to be VAT registered but do charge VAT on their alleged services, nor do they indicate a break down of VAT on invoices.... also missing is their unique vat registration number & companies house has nothing currently registered with them HMRC, the fraud squad & a few other organisations have been informed DO NOT SPEAK OR PART ANY MONEY WITH THESE GUYS LIKEWISE IF YOU GET BULLIED OR HARASSED BY THESE INDIVIDUALS, BAILIFFS OR ANYTHING RELATED TO THIS OUTFIT - POST A NOTE ON THIS THREAD & WE CAN STICK TOGETHER & IF NECESSARY TAKE THEM ON.... that's if the appropriate authorities take action before! If you get cold called by someone allegedly phoning from the "MET Police Press Office" HANG UP
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Reply : 28 May 2012
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| Reply : 29 May 2012 I think this is all part of the scam. This time the number was withheld so I can't block it. Told them to go away.
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| Reply : 29 May 2012 Have more emails chasing money too & further threats Have already wasted 1 day over these scammers by contacting every organisation possible including the fraud squad, trading standards, HMRC etc.... THESE GUYS NEED TO BE FURTHER EXPOSED, THEIR OPERATION STOPPED & LOCKED AWAY FOR FRAUD BY DECEPTION & HARASSMENT
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| Reply : 30 May 2012 I know some people have contacted Watchdog, feels as if we could get these jokers exposed it would destroy the scam and may even get the authorities to act.
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| Reply : 5 Jun 2012 Easy to say I know, and yes I have lost my temper occasionally, whenever I have found myself on the receiving end of scammer's who will use every skill that they have in order to trick their way to success. Keep in mind that any representative of theirs may make claims that he is a litigator yet for all you know you could just as easily be dealing with one person using a variety of aliases so take nothing that they say at face value.
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Reply : 8 Jun 2012
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| Reply : 8 Jun 2012 You can make a report to Action Fraud which is basically the Police and you will get a reference number. The more of us who do this the better I think it is all about raising awareness. If you paid by debit card or bank transfer I would talk to the bank about protecting your account details from them. If you paid by cheque your bank account details should be safe. I have also written to my local MP. You may get other so called publications contacting you as these guys sell on your details so be aware, sometimes they try and tell you that you have agreed to advertise with them just tell them no and hang up.
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| Reply : 8 Jun 2012 They can assist your with this scam & also may be able to get your money refunded Trading standards, the fraud squad amongst other organisations are aware of "Community Publishing" & their scam, but they are not interested in shutting these crooks down & even if they did the punishment is nothing in comparison to the money they have defrauded people. If Community Publishing phone you HANG UP - DO NOT SPEAK TO THEM OR SAY 'YES' AS THEY EDIT YOUR VOICE & THEN SEND YOU A RECORDED CONVERSATION THAT NEVER TOOK PLACE - THE CONTENTS OF WHICH YOU HAVE AGREED TO ADVERTISING IN A NON-EXISTANT MAGAZINE - THEY HAVE DONE THIS TO ME & OTHERS & HAVE THREATENED ME WITH LEGAL ACTION.....
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| Reply : 12 Jun 2012 ive had threatening emails and letters and have sent them letters and emails back and have it all on file. i'm now just refusing to have anything more to do with whoever they are. STAY AWAY FROM THEM.
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Reply : 21 Jun 2012
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| Reply : 22 Jun 2012 Looks like it may be another similar scam check this linkhttp://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120410084848AA3FnrR. I think it will tell you all you need to know.
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| Reply : 23 Jun 2012 The scam goes like this... A very 'soft sell' phone call about helping a local school/college with Road Safety (or some such thing), a promise that your 'Ad' will be seen by 120000 people etc etc. Its all TOSH. I never recieved the 20 free copies of the edition with my advert in and when I did get a single copy I rang other advertisers - all of whom had had exactly the same experience! Also, I got a call from a company proposing to collect the magazine and carry out an investigation! They sent a courier... My bad, as this was a scam too. I will NEVER, EVER buy over the phone (unsolicited caller) again! God help the genuine tele-sales companies... How hard must that sector be now. The offending companies that rang me were ALL Liverpool based... Leave these Scammers well alone. I reported all this to fraud squad, trading standards etc
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| Reply : 27 Jun 2012 I became suspicious when I noticed the invoices had same logo but different addresses and company names. One of these are VAT registered and I wonder if the HMRC know of these scouse scammers with London addressees. I contacted action fraud who I know realise do not investigate a crime but just record it. So I have contacted the police and have a crime reference and they are obliged to contact you every 5 days to tell you how there investigating is getting on. I have been to my local Lloyds TBS and have asked them to complete a money laundering form as I believe that these companies have their accounts with them and hence they are receiving 'proceeds of crime'. I am tempted to go on YOU & YOURS or GET DOM on the case!! I have lost £350 and now have learnt a hard lesson to put the phone down on cold callers. I even gave the lady from TALK_TALK a mouthful on the phone and told her to take my contact details off their databases or I will report her to the data protection people!!...Hard but I'm so fed up with cold callers.
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Reply : 27 Jun 2012
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Reply : 29 Jun 2012
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Reply : 5 Jul 2012
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Reply : 5 Jul 2012
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Reply : 16 Jul 2012
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Reply : 17 Jul 2012
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| Reply : 18 Jul 2012 not a nice thought but better than being ripped off!
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Reply : 18 Jul 2012 - (Edited : 18 Jul 2012)
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Reply : 19 Jul 2012
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| Reply : 23 Jul 2012 'The police fraud investigation helpline know all about these people IF you have been a target REPORT it, their number is 0300 123 2040 give them all the information from e mails etc, they will issue you a crime number, i was going to pay until i received a call from a ad company for facebook where the advertising manager advised me to contact and check with the local police, to see if this was a scam.....indeed it was! I am grateful for the call from facebook that interrupted my day as they have just saved me a lot of money. these scammers told me that i 'could NOT back out' once i had agreed to advertise and was legally binding, of course ANY ad agency offers you a 'cooling off' period, they have to by law, this did make me think but it was the call this morning from facebook that sent alarm bells ringing! Please be careful, i was advised to 'make light' of them on the phone and say, 'you know mate, i know this is a scam and i am not interested' this was what i was advised to do by the police fraud line...........if in doubt please don't pay, call these people above!'
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Reply : 24 Jul 2012
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Reply : 3 Aug 2012
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| Reply : 7 Aug 2012 I did a bit of digging after this and came across this forum and boy am I glad. I phoned the national Police fraud line, even though I haven't parted with any cash. The lady was very helpful indeed, she stress do not answer the phone to them, to not reply to emails and do not be intimidated by threats of bailiffs, THESE ARE JUST THREATS. I will not be paying a penny to these idiots. I feel stupid for falling for the scam but am pleased that I haven't lost any money. At times like these when I am about to be made redundant and am working so very hard to get my own business off the ground, scammers who steal and Con just make me furious. If you have said yes but haven't paid just don't there is nothing they can do. Police Fraud Line :0300123040 Thank you to everyone on this forum, this has been a massive help and a lucky escape.
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Reply : 7 Aug 2012 - (Edited : 7 Aug 2012)
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| Reply : 9 Aug 2012 Don't let them intimidate you, they will send you a recording of a conversation of you agreeing to their T&C's, regular emails & invoices posted from Wales They are worthless scum & don't have a leg to stand on - ignore them & they will eventually go away - They have made threats to me to come to my house, their salesman "Ryan" even threatened me with violence, take me to court, involve debt recovery companies etc etc I recently made a visit to their London offices..... non existant! Just feel sorry for the people who part with their hard earned money. I don't think the fraud squad, the tax man, Lloyds bank, companies house are really interested, or they would have done something about these scoundrels ages ago - as I understand they have been promoting their (non-existant) 'magazine' for over 5 years..... & no-one seems to have seen a single copy...... if any copies do exists it would be interesting to see a hard copy! Freeindex is a good site - but feel they should send out an automated email when you join, (have contaced FI regarding this) so as you are aware of this scam & the 'Facebook' advertising scam which follows!!!
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Reply : 14 Aug 2012
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| Reply : 20 Aug 2012 |
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| Reply : 20 Aug 2012 |
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| Reply : 23 Aug 2012 I received the call today, offering space in the "Community Security Journal" being a newly expanded business I fell hook line etc. I then received the email with the invoice etc. I got nervous, googled the name and found this thread. So a quick call to 0300 123 2040 (Fraud office) did the job. Reported the attempted fraud, gave them their names/address/phone number bank details etc. Thank god I didn't pay before finding this thread!! Things are tight enough without these scammers!! Oh I wish they would pay me a visit now :D I have been instructed by the police to say nothing and just hang up. ignoring all correspondence etc. They have a file a few feet thick on these guys!!
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| Reply : 31 Aug 2012 Today I got an email saying no money has been recieved etc and I have 7 days from todays date to get in contact etc. So is the best course of action to contact my bank and fraud prevention? glad I am not the only one in this situation |
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| Reply : 31 Aug 2012 if you paid by debit card or bacs your bank should be able to recall the payment, as for ewhat to do next, ignore them, i wrote to them and told them they'd been busted, they never contacted me back after that. I amsorry you paid them and have lost this money, i was fortunate a call from a facebook advertiser gave me the tip off, i am glad they did, or i would have paid their bills! Disgusting, you do however need to contact the fraud office on the 0300 number give them the bank details that you paid to and content of the e-mail etc, it won't help yopu but may stop the same thing happening to someone else. |
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| Reply : 31 Aug 2012 Spoke to fraud office earlier really helpful. I paid via bacs so I will try and get the money back via the bank. Really annoys me that things like this happen so often. Thank you for your advice
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| Reply : 31 Aug 2012 When they call hiding behind a 'witheld number' - simply hang up, or insult them if you wish.... call them scammers, the reply is "you can't call someone a scammer until he has been proven guilty"! Just don't get caught-out by this organisation |
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| Reply : 3 Sep 2012 Leanne Affleck Complaint Investigations Not the answer we really wanted to hear is it T Mobile??? |
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| Reply : 3 Sep 2012 |
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| Reply : 4 Sep 2012 |
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| Reply : 4 Sep 2012 Thanks for the message, going to chase the bank for the payment now, Regards Sam |
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| Reply : 14 Sep 2012 |
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Reply : 14 Sep 2012 |
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| Reply : 18 Sep 2012 |
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Reply : 19 Sep 2012
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| Reply : 27 Sep 2012 Had a call from these guys this morning. Spoke to a 'James Ryan' (decide for yourselves if you think that's a fake name or not). He is a scouser and the number that showed up on my phone was 07927 274625. How convenient that I was top of his lists of contacts to call!! Not that he could tell me where he got my contact details, as I now know this would have led me back to this page, telling me it is all a scam. So many alarm bells were going off - the eagerness to get me to say 'Yes', the amateur website, him not knowing initially what website he was supposed to be directing me to, and the eagerness to offer a larger advert for less money, all to get me to sign up - that I googled 'community publishing' and this page came up. Have logged the incident with Action Fraud - 0300 123 2040 - and sent the message out to all my alternative health colleagues to spread the word far and wide. I also called 'James Ryan' straight back to confirm that I definitely was not interested in their 'offers'. If they contact me again, I'll be referring them to the police. DO NOT GIVE ANY DETAILS OR YOUR MONEY TO THESE SCAMMERS!!!! Or try to help the Fraud Squad by getting as much info out of them as possible.
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Reply : 27 Sep 2012
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| Reply : 2 Oct 2012 |
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| Reply : 3 Oct 2012 Let them send an invoice but make no further contact with them. Instead contact or make a complaint through the action fraud hotline as you will need their particulars to put this through (you will be given a crime number). If they try and intimidate you then use this crime number and make a formal complaint to the police. I hope this helps |
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| Reply : 19 Oct 2012 |
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| Reply : 19 Oct 2012 I also got some money from another set of scammers by going to my bank and they called some money back through the banking system for me. The bank told me that they were monitoring scams all the time and that my incident would be added to their file. I have heard of banks being obstructive in getting money back. Just keep on at them - make them know that you mean business. I think that you have a long time to get your money back and the onus of proof is on the seller particularly if it was a card holder not present transaction. I paid both by cheque and a third I refused to pay at all. I hope this helps. |
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| Reply : 20 Oct 2012 Don't ever feel intimidated, if you do fight your corner. |
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| Reply : 6 Nov 2012 |
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| Reply : 6 Nov 2012 |
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| Reply : 16 Nov 2012 ~ Cold call Claiming to be from the police ~Was told the local council gave our business name to them ~told how an advert in the community security Journal would be sent out to over 750000 people including schools. They also claim to have the royal mail onboard and police distributing outside major supermarkets ~I thought Ok that sounds good. Full page ad for the price of half a page sent out in 4 editions throughout the year.Told not tell anyone else what price I had payed! Another thing i was told was that the scheme was funded by the government and thats why the ads were so cheap. ~Told that calls were recorded and basically I could not back out of the contract. ~was then called by another person who told me again the calls were recorded and That I had agreed to the contract and that an invoice and art work would be sent out that very day. ~Recieved art work......looked errmmm Intersting?. Thought Ill deal with this later! ~Another email 5% Discount if I pay before a certain date ~Another email 10% discount if I pay that very day (Payment only by transferre or BACs) No debit cards or credit cards ~Before making payment I had a proper look into this publication. And Came across this thread! LUCKILY I hadnt payed them any money!I took the advise to call Action Fraud. I then emailed then here it is below. Dear Sarah, Thank you for your email. In light of your comments we have cancelled your invoice in full and will not be able to reserve a space for you in future. Kind regards John Peterson On 16/11/2012 12:30, Sarah Eye Design wrote: > After speaking with the Advertising Protection agency I wish to cancel > this transaction As I believe it to be fraudulent. I have also filed a > complaint to Action Fraud all emails have been forwarded to them. I > have also spoke the the local council who are un aware of any such > publication. When signing into any contract any cooling off periods > must be adheared to. This matter will be taken further. > Regards > sarah I hope this helps someone in the same boat!I am waiting for the threats etc...Will keep you posted I plan to just ignore any calls or letters as advised to by Action Fraud!
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Reply : 13 Dec 2012
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| Reply : 15 Jan 2013 - (Edited : 15 Jan 2013) I received an 'overdue' invoice about two months after the initial conversation - I'd not heard from them further during that time and certainly not had an invoice from them until the 'overdue' one arrived just before Christmas - along with an increased amount because it was 'overdue'. By that time I'd identified them as a scam (through this forum) and so I certainly wasn't going to pay them anything. This is the email I then sent them, noting their 'reference number': ============= I am in receipt of your letter of (date) and the attached 'overdue invoice' and proposed 'advert layout' . I have been made aware since your initial contact that you are running a fraudulent scam. I will therefore be contacting the police and other agencies including Action Fraud and the Advertising Protection Agency after Christmas. You will not be receiving any money from me under any circumstances and any attempts to harass me either directly or via a third party will likewise be reported. Your tactics are well documented. Any future communications from you or any third party claiming to act on your behalf will be ignored but filed, stored or recorded to use as possible legal evidence and also forwarded to the relevant agencies. I suggest you cancel my 'order'. ============ I subsequently (about 2 weeks later) received the following emailed response from their "Corporate Recovery Department: There are rogue traders out there, but we are certainly not one of them. We should not be tarred with that brush. In light of your comments I have cancelled your invoice and we will never reserve a space for you in future. Sincerely John Peterson I've not heard from them since and nor do I expect to. 'John Peterson' was also the person who originally 'sold' me, and whose sole mobile phone number was never answered nor took messages. Please feel free to use my words if it would help. If they'd not backed off I certainly would have taken further action but I think you'll find if they are given a firm rebuttal they won't take the risk of further action being taken. Hope this helps. |
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| Reply : 24 Jan 2013 - (Edited : 24 Jan 2013) |
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| Reply : 24 Jan 2013 |
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| Reply : 24 Jan 2013 (I am in no way linked with TAPA or The Advertising Protection Agency) |
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Reply : 25 Jan 2013
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| Reply : 15 Feb 2013 |
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| Reply : 15 Feb 2013 |
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| Reply : 19 Feb 2013 "Jim" assured me that there was nothing to worry about and that he only wanted to know if I would be interested in advertising in a new magazine raising funds for the Emergency Services. I explained to Jim that there is a very good website for small businesses called "Freeindex" and that he should take the time to have a look at the forum. I explained to him that it was a coincidence that he was blessed with a Liverpudlian accent and that he was also calling from a mobile phone and he soon got the point. To be fair, he was polite before ending the call. |
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| Reply : 19 Feb 2013 |
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| Reply : 10 days ago |
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| Reply : 10 days ago I know it's more money, but you can put in a claim (for I think £25) to small claims court. They wont turn up, when you win you can appoint bailiffs to go and retrieve funds for you.
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| Reply : 10 days ago |
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