Snapper Julie in warning of fake magazine scam
Small business owners have been warned to be on their guard against a phone scam.
Police across the country have received reports of new firms being targeted by frausters, who attempt to extract money out of them in return for advertising in publications that do not exist.
Bridge of Allan photographer Julie Howden contacted the Observer this week, saying that she had been contacted by someone who claimed to be from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
“I was at work and initially thought something bad had happened,”she said. “He told me he was from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and that they were looking for advertising for a glossy 22-page magazine.
“He said that I could advertise my wedding photography business for £150, and that all the funds raised would go to a charity for disadvantaged children.”
Julie told the caller that she would have to think about it, and when the man phoned her again the following day he was incessant in trying to get money from her.
“He said‘Are you going to co-operate with us? Are you going to come on board? I asked him for more information, and if he could send me an example of the magazine.
“He said he would post it out, but when I asked him how he knew my address, he hung up.”
Julie has reported to the incident to the police - and said the calls started when she included her business on an online directory. The man gave his name as Philip Hockley, and was said to be middle aged with an accent from the north of England.
Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed that no such magazine exists.“We only have an internal magazine, and would never ask over the phone for businesses to advertise,”a spokeswoman for the service said. Angela Harrison, of Davidson Lea in Kippen, is the winner of last Friday’s butcher boy competition.
She earns £20 worth of meat from Falleninch Farm after spotting the logo on page 13.