Charities and businesses warned about publishing scam

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's Trading Standards Service (TSS) has warned local businesses in Northern Ireland to watch out for a scam involving support for charity publications.

According to the TSS, the scam is targeting small businesses in particular and is focusing on children’s charities, especially charities for children with cancer.

The scam involves a phone call to the business asking the company to support a charity through advertising in a booklet, magazine, wall planner, diary or activity book.

Often the unscrupulous publisher will claim that the business has advertised before, or agreed to take an advert some months ago. The business then receives a fax or a phone call to confirm details in the advert. This conversation, or a signed fax, is recorded as proof that the company has agreed to an advertisement.

A few weeks later the company is asked to pay for the advert, and if there is no payment, firms are harassed with phone calls threatening Small Claims Court action or blacklisting the company with Credit Reference Agencies. As for the publication in question, in most cases there is no such publication and little or no money is raised for charity.

The TSS said that among the companies involved in this scam are Advanced Marketing & Consultancy Ltd, Derryford Ltd and Supporting Link Alliance Ltd.

Trading Standards Officer Stuart MacMurdo said: “There are some responsible traders who have raised money for charity and produced publications for many years. Recently less scrupulous traders have found this to be an easy way to make money.

“This scam is not just a hassle for businesses but is repugnant in their use of charities, especially children’s charities, as a means for them to get money dishonestly.”

TSS have issued guidance for dealing with this scam including:

• Don’t commit yourself without knowing what you are expected to pay and what you’ll get;
• Don’t believe all you hear – check with the charity;
• Don’t pay any money until you see the publication distributed;
• Ask the company for details, such as the Charity Number, of the charity being supported.

TSS also warned that those approached should verify with the charity that they have some formal fund-raising agreement with the commercial firm, that it has been in place some time, has been beneficial to the charity and that the company is open with the charity about it’s fundraising activities.

Finally, ask where the publication will be distributed and, if possible, confirm this with outlets.

(MB)