Scam alert! Beware of telephone fraudsters impersonating the police to try to sell ads for a fake magazine, ironically about crime prevention.
June is Scams Awareness Month in the UK. Frankly, the cybercrime issue is way out of hand yet many of us overlook the confidence tricksters who aren’t necessarily looking to hack your computer or break into your bank account through sophisticated means.
Some of the most successful fraud hinges on exploiting the frailties of the human condition by appealing to greed and aversion.
Many small businesses want to grow, expand and reach new customers making them more likely to fall for an attractive advertising proposition claiming to do just that.
Fraudster Impersonating the Police
On Wednesday 14th February 2018 at 11:41 am, I received a phone call from 07718 274712 in which a man claiming to be from the “local crime prevention unit” asked me to join a trusted trader scheme.
He said his team wanted to highlight and publicise the work of good, reputable companies in the area.
He told me – in an authoritative and indignant tone – of his frustration with rogue traders in the area.
He claimed to represent a magazine highlighting crime, scams and fraud, which would be printed up and circulated locally. I cannot remember whereabouts this magazine would supposedly be distributed but it was pitched under the pretext of generating local business for me as a self-employed person.
Because, according to him, I was such a reputable trader, I was being given the opportunity to buy advertising in this magazine to market my web design services.
The flattery was laid on thick but I challenged him on several points for which he seemed to have an answer every time. I knew it was all cobblers.
Some of the things he said that I can remember:
- “Don’t worry, you haven’t done anything wrong” – he wanted to put me at ease since he said he was from the police
- “We want to get these idiots off the street” – referring to rogue traders
- “You would be the only web design company advertising” – a supposed exclusive deal
- “We’re working with trading standards” – a flat out lie
- “Cannot guarantee loads of work and phone calls or enquiries” – appealing to my cynicism to try and win me over
- “You’ll be allowed to use our crest” – oh, lucky me! A crest
- “We use Experian to vet businesses and perform background checks – but not for credit checks” – bullshit
- “£150 a year for the advert” – you’d never see the money again
- “The money’s not the important part” – what?
- “Do you want to partner with us?” – no
The proposal was identical to a charity magazine scam that I fell victim to in June 2017. Yes, at the time of that particular scam, my eye was off the ball and my mind dulled by worries in my personal life.
I paid £149 for an advert in a magazine promoting a children’s cancer charity called Kids for Life, and once I realised what had happened I doubled down in my scepticism towards cold callers.
A sample of the charity magazine was sent to me but was one of literally a handful of copies to satisfy the concerns of those that had paid for an ad.
Action Fraud describes this type of scam as publication fraud.
Going back to my fake police phone call, I listened to everything that was said, and encouraged him to talk. I feigned interest but couldn’t resist affecting a tone of sarcasm and disgust when asked if I wanted to take out an ad in their make-belief publication.
The caller quickly hung up when he realised the game was up. Idiot!
There are many similar reports to mine in the media. Once you’ve read a few of them you’ll become familiar with the type of shtick and sales patter these people use.
Recorded Phone Call
Someone else was targeted by a similar “police initiative” scam but possibly a different crew. They recorded the phone call.
Normally I would record any calls but only if they’re routed to my landline through Skype. I use a handy plugin to capture both sides of a phone call in these circumstances.
In the recording below, the rogue caller starts the conversation with the exact same “don’t worry, you haven’t done anything wrong” line.
Other attempted scams I did not fall for (which I bothered to write about) include the dodgy business leads generator and a stolen credit card operation.
just had same call from a different mobile number regarding renewables advert for ltd. companies – 07898 184 869
questioned him about scam online and he hung up.
Nice fellow, sounded very professional.
Just had a similar call from a guy with a Liverpool accent saying he was from Crime prevention awareness magazine offering me advertising at a cost of £290, hung up quite quickly once i started asking questions about not being able to see any reference to this campaign on the internet. Called from the number 07735207649
I just received an almost identical call from “Work-Force” magazine some of the lines were identical. The call was from 07743193797 and he called himself Jordan kelly. Nice guy though…
Just received a phone from 07878512398, the guy had a northern accent and wanted to sell me the idea about advertising my business on FORCE magazine for free and they wanted to expose fraud/rogue business in my area. He said they have just started working with businesses in the North London area. He says there is nothing to worry about, you have not done anything wrong we just want to expose fake businesses. When I asked where he got my contact number from he said its either from Google, Yell or from someone I have done a service for, when I said I have not done either of those, he says well its google isn’t. I said okay let me look up your magazine online and to tell me how to spell their name he hung up so quickly.
He spoke so fast and professional, anyone who is not sceptical would fall for his lies!
I’m disappointed but not surprised this is still going on. When I get calls like this, I now ask them to call me on my landline, which actually is routed through my Skype. This gives me the ability to record calls so I can get the full conversation in audio and then produce a transcript. Very useful when you come to report them to ActionFraud.
The scammers never say they ARE the police but, rather, something more along the lines of “we’re with the police” or “working alongside the police”.
It’s funny how they always say “don’t worry, you haven’t done anything wrong”. It would be worth analysing the reasons for them using that particular technique. Clearly, they are attempting to establish a sort of parental authority which puts us back in the mindset of being a helpless child. We suddenly become submissive when someone initially suggests we are in trouble, but then withdraws that idea quickly, making them a figure that we might cede our own authority to.
This and similar scams are all very nasty, and the people behind such deceptions are well-rehearsed and well-prepared to a degree. They’re intelligent enough to know when to cut their losses and move on if a mark is not taking the bait. Of course, when people attempt to scam me over the phone, I play along to get them to open up and divulge incriminating evidence which I’ll later use against them.
Only now ive read this and feel a fool.ive had phone call from “business force” and agreed to a small ad for my new self employed business. Ive had mag delivered and looks good but feel not right.ive not paid yet so is there anything i can do
Hi Lee,
I’ve had the same experience. Got a call out of the blue and against my better judgement went along with it. The Mag looks glossy and professional but only 5 other adverts in there none of which look genuine – only mobile numbers and some of the companies don’t even have names “Scrap Metal Wanted” and UK Airport Transfers” are two of them.
Also on the invoice there’s no VAT number which made the alarm bells ring.
Neither “Business Force” or “Federation of Regional Crime Enforcement” exist on companies house and the only reference you can find to them are their own facebook pages and Web sites. Added to that is the fact that a bit of internet searching brought me to this forum and your post give me confidence that this is a big old scam
I’ve spoken to the FSB legal help line and they’ve advised me not to pay. It’s up to them to prove it’s genuine.
The ‘accounts department’ chased me for payment earlier and when I said I thought it wasn’t genuine she said she’d have to get a manager to call me to discuss my concerns and hung up ad quick as she could.
I’m looking into reporting it to the authorities but not quite sure which way to go. I’ll get back to you if I find out then perhaps you can make a similar complaint so something can be done about it…
Hello, What did you do in the end?
Anyone had a call from 077864683008? I did yesterday the young lady on the other end of the call caught me as I was in town with my daughter, so I was distracted and it was too noisy to hear her properly.
Apparently some months ago I agreed (again) to place a small advert in the: Community Awareness Magazine. When I challenged her saying I’d not agreed to any such thing (been burned before), she said she’d have to put it into the hands of their Debt Recovery Agents.
As I didn’t pay said invoice by 8pm last night I’m now awaiting further calls from them and I’m ready for them today. Sat at home doing paperwork and have a list of questions for them, let’s see how I get on!!
Got a text message yesterday from a guy called Paul on the number 07596 372491. I’ve included the message here exaclty as written to highlight grammatical errors:
“Hi [business name] my name is Paul I’m calling on behalf of the local education board. We are looking for 1 graphic company to come on board our campaign and except all the work for the area. If you are interested in having all the work please give me a call back as soon as your free Many thanks Paul”
When I called the number back it went straight to a Giff Gaff mailbox, which I thought was odd.
I had recently signed up my new business with Yell and so assumed this is where they got my number from. It is not published anywhere else.
I originally thought, from the text, that they were offering me work but when I spoke to the guy he told me that it was for a magazine, called HWRK Magazine, read by teachers, parents and pupils and that I would be the only design agency advertised. For £195 I would have an advert in each of the four quarterly magazines. I told him that I had just started my business and that money is tight. He offered to do let me have the advert for £145. After lots of questions I told him that I would sign up. It genuinely sounded legitimate. He then told me that someone would be in touch with me shortly with details of how to pay.
I then got 5 calls from a withheld number between 11:22 and 11:48. I’ve set my phone up to ignore witheld numbers so never heard the phone ring.
Searching for HWRK Magazine I found a lot of negative reviews on Trust Pilot and that these scams have been run in the past. The guy I spoke to told me that the magazines I would advertise in were running a bullying campaign, something that is very close to my heart. I immediately called the mobile number back (straight to voicemail) and respectfully declined the offer. I have had no more calls since.
I hope this information helps other people that are being called by these scammers.
I’ve had exactly that buisness force claiming that they were working along side the police .starting with “it’s ok you haven’t done anything wrong”. They have sent me a magazine .theres only 4 adverts in the whole magazine and now want 354 pounds for the privledge . I’ve not paid but alarm bells rang and decided to look online .no vat number ???
Hello, What was this company called? As they have tried scamming me.
Thanks
Hi all
My partner had the same
I challenged them as i have experience in dealing with things like this
The invoice got canceled
Let me know if you need help
Hi just got my magazine and invoice from business force what should I do about it as my advert is in the magazine but not in the online magazine cheers
Business force
Do not pay them
I am sorry to say that I fell for this scam from HWRK magazine costing me £175. I have reported them to Action Fraud, the police have now called me and advised that I should also contact trading standards to see if I can get my money returned. Good luck to anyone else who fell for it
Hi, so glad I found this page. I am a very small business, and only starting out. It sounded great on the call. So I went ahead. We are at the artwork part when I had second thoughts. And googled it. Found this , So I’ve hopefully in time caught it and cancelled.
Hi, just received the invoice and the magazine from business force last week, what should i do now? I don’t want to pay them but at the same time don’t want the debt collectors knocking at my door. Trading standards have been informed
Just managed to get in touch with business force by telephone and they’ve cancelled my invoice. Fingers crossed I wont get anything else from them.
Thank goodness for all these helpful comments!
I have literally just had the phone call, thought it sounded like a good opportunity. Took time out to google HWRK and found this thread. It saved me from being rather embarrassed.
Thank you