Scam alert: "you agreed to sponsor a book"

[sarky]

Had a call this morning claiming I agreed to sponsor a drug awareness book for use in high schools some months ago.

This scam is listed on the OFT's website (search for 'Charity publishing scam').

The 'number not available' on the phone and use of the words 'high school' (we don't have that sort of school as far as I know) were clues.

So be careful!

 

[StevensOnln1]

It's nothing new. I've had plenty of calls trying to get me to sponsor stuff like this.

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Had this one a couple of weeks ago too - used the opportunity see what I sound like using gangsta speak. They hung up.

 

[SillyJokes]

Also got call recently. I asked if they were recording the call and when they said yes I clearly and loudly stated I did not order this product and did not wish to order the product. They went away.

 

[dazzammm]

thank god for the internet. Ive just been called stating the same. i usually cant remember what day of the week it is but I vaguely remember the original conversation, at best i might have said i was interested but one thing i do remember is if I agree to spend money!

i said i dont remember the conversation and she said she would go and look into it. ill let you know if she calls back.

where all your calls from the UK? (i.e. not Indian)

 

[steviemac]

Had this one a couple of weeks ago too - used the opportunity see what I sound like using gangsta speak. They hung up.

lol...very good!

 

[garyk]

Treat anything like this with the contempt it deserves, tell em to **** off!

 

[Bill1954]

I got caught with this earlier this year. A couple of months later they rang back asking for payment for the second edition. They got told in no uncertain terms where to go.

 

[sarky]

thank god for the internet. Ive just been called stating the same. i usually cant remember what day of the week it is but I vaguely remember the original conversation, at best i might have said i was interested but one thing i do remember is if I agree to spend money!

i said i dont remember the conversation and she said she would go and look into it. ill let you know if she calls back.

where all your calls from the UK? (i.e. not Indian)

The caller wasn't foreign. I think she had either a Manchester or Liverpool accent. I've not heard from them again.

 

[Gaskell]

They are usually calling from 0151 or 0161 numbers. I've been getting them nearly everyday for the last 2 years. I let them ring to answer machine everytime. They never leave a message

 

[Posilan]

and use of the words 'high school' (we don't have that sort of school as far as I know)

We used to until a few years ago when they (for some reason) were all renamed "college".

Used to be:

Primary School
High School
College/6th form
University

Now it seems to be:

Primary School
College
College/6th Form
University.

:|

Steve

 

[Moneyman]

This and the police road awareness scam oh and the firebrigade one come round every year.

 

[Trisha&ChrisPlant]

We used to until a few years ago when they (for some reason) were all renamed "college".

Used to be:

Primary School
High School
College/6th form
University

Now it seems to be:

Primary School
College
College/6th Form
University.

:|

Steve

Here in sunny Framlingham we still have Thomas Mills High School - has been that way for years. Though when I was there many moons ago it was known as Framlingham Modern School

http://www.thomasmills.suffolk.sch.uk/

 

[sarky]

They are usually calling from 0151 or 0161 numbers. I've been getting them nearly everyday for the last 2 years. I let them ring to answer machine everytime. They never leave a message

Crikey! Poor you.

 

[sarky]

We used to until a few years ago when they (for some reason) were all renamed "college".
Used to be:
Primary School
High School
Steve

Thanks, I didn't know that. I thought "high school" was an American thing, but obviously not! In my day/area it was primary then grammar or secondary modern school.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

They are usually calling from 0151 or 0161 numbers. I've been getting them nearly everyday for the last 2 years. I let them ring to answer machine everytime. They never leave a message

Blow a loud whistle down the phone next time... they'll soon stop.

Failing that, PM me the numbers... I'll contact them asking for the payment of a lock change I haven't done.

 

[John White]

I had one of these calls today - trying to tell me I spoke to them back on July 5th and agreed to sponsor some books for schools. Manchester accent, smooth but aggressive sales pitch (him, not me). Private Number comes up on the phone so no number to call back. Very convincing in many ways but it's got SCAM written all over it in very big letters. Very persistent and a complete con. Anyone know who they are, they need to be shut down. Or burnt down.

 

[John White]

Sadly, some people will be taken in by it as the 'sales team' they employ are clearly very persuasive and skilful. Forewarned and all that......

 

[Richard Edwards]

I know this is an old topic, but they're still at it. Just got a call asking for £149 and they'll ship the books tomorrow to my chosen school. Very very persistent and also Manchester based. Called from a number that is not registered - faked caller ID - 0330 043 1234 (This is a Yay.com voip number, so I asked them to track who it was and they said it was unregistered)

 

[tracy maddox]

I got stung my the high school drug awareness scam in 2014 and they have tried again every year and each time I've said I didn't agree to this and then they went away. Today I have had a call from a so called high court bailiff who says I agreed to a £199 month subscription and my bill is nearly £3k. They threatened to come and remove my car and belongings today. I told them where to go. They have still not arrived. Please be aware as some people may believe them and payout. It's a nasty scam

 

[Clare Cameron]

Anyone still getting these ? We were called yesterday saying high court enforcement were coming to collect over £4K! Have never agreed to anything and never would. Police and Action Fraud now informed.

 

[Ursicles]

My mate has a whistle next to his phone - when these guys call - he pretends to be interested then mid sentence blows the whistle really hard down the phone.

Its actually quite funny as usually have people swearing on the other end, or dropping their phone.

 

[Andy Walsh]

You should not rely on Action Fraud too much. I have reported them about invest scam scheme in July with all the names, bank accounts, phone numbers, web sites etc. and finally recieved "we are very busy and will inform you..." letter in October))

 

[Ashley_Price]

You should not rely on Action Fraud too much.

On the other side of the coin, I reported to Action Fraud about a potential scam (someone pretending to be from a university and wanting to purchase loads of toners) and the evidence I gave them led to the arrest and charge of several scammers.

What I was told by the Chief Inspector for my area is that with Action Fraud, they take in the evidence from lots of different victims or those who reported fraud and build up one big case against the perpetrators, rather than just arresting them for one small job, and they just get fined.

 

[Newchodge]

EDIT deleted as the thread is 5 years old.

 

[The Byre]

All together now - "Happy birth day to you!"

 

[Ashley_Price]

I saw it was five years old, but as people had restarted the conversation, I thought I'd reply.

 

[Newchodge]

I saw it was five years old, but as people had restarted the conversation, I thought I'd reply.

No problem with the contemporary replies, but I was arguing about England not having high schools.

 

[Clodbuster]

Today I had a guy phone from 07493237949 saying bailiffs are on their way to serve CCJ on behalf of "Books for Schools" as I'd paid one payment then reneged on the following 11 payments.
Firstly I've never agreed to anything.
Never paid anything.
Never had a contract sent to me.
Never been contacted to defend the CCJ nor received any communication that it had been registered.

I guess they are trying to scare me. Told them to send the bailiffs around.

 

[AlanRegolo]

I've been open as a small retail business for 6 years this month.

I recall 'Child Protection UK Ltd' calling me very early on with the line so often quoted of approximately 'we'd like to thank you for your support for our drug awareness booklet and we're just ring to see what school you want them sent to'.

Of course had never agreed to this / recognised that I'd spoke to them previously but they sent me a mock-up of what the booklet would look like with my shop name in the inside cover. I ignored this as it was clearly either a scam or VERY naff.

Over the years I've had a few calls from them with the same line and I've said 'I have never agreed to anything and/or I don't know what you're talking about' to which they always said 'OK then' and immediately hung up - also always seems to be the same woman with Manchester-ish accent.

Then in early December 2017 a man rung (with a matching accent) to warn me that bailiffs were on their way to my premises as I have an outstanding CCJ against me. I was initially alarmed (as that is the sensible response!) and when I queried what the debt was for they said it was for non-payment of a subscription relating to Child Protection UK Ltd.
The company name rang a bell but despite my constant dismissal of the company over the years I couldn't help get carried away by the fear and imagine I missed something and had inadvertently agreed to a subscription. The real fear kicked in when they said the outstanding debt was £4350(ish)!!!!
At that point I went mad on the phone asking for more details and that I would not pay the debt as while I recall the company contacting me I have no recollection of agreeing to anything at all. In response to this they said they had a recording of me agreeing to the subscription but when I asked to be sent proof their story / attack started to appear unsure. They then got off the phone calling back 10 minutes later with 'good news' my debt has been reduced to £2800 to which I responded with 'that's all well and good but I'm not paying anything as I never agreed to this'. Then same again, they got off the phone and rang back with a lower amount to which I responded the same as before. They left me with essentially 'well tough the bailiffs are coming and they'll be with you in 30 minutes' - on a side note each time they rang they were sure to maintain that the bailiffs were closing in, like bad weather, to add to the fear factor!

After I got off the phone that 3rd time I went online to see if this had happened to anyone else and I was ecstatic to find this thread and others confirming that it's a scam and no bailiffs come.

I write here today as a curtailed version of the above sequence happened again less than an hour ago (February 14th 2018)! This time the amount was approximately if not exactly the same at £4350ish and in response I was calm and curious and started asking questions quickly without getting annoyed. They seemed keen to get off the phone trying to wrap up with 'you don't need to write anything down just know that the bailiffs are on the way'. They didn't seem to try and take money from me this time which was nice / confusing - side note, it was 100% the same guy as before and no bailiffs have materialised (yet).

Despite knowing this was a scam and recognising the same guy on the phone I still felt quite shaken by it. I really don't know how these people don't hate themselves. I would bet a lot of people really panic on the phone, even getting emotional. I know I got very angry the first time around and they knew about it.

I 1471'd the number and got this one - 07386 590348.

Hope this helps.

 

[Newchodge]

Report ot to Action Fraud

 

[AlanRegolo]

Report ot to Action Fraud

I will do ASAP thank you

 

[JamesTweedie]

Hi, really glad to have found this conversation. Have been caught twice by this - once was Child Protection UK Ltd (last year). Contacted school the books were supposed to be going to and they never received anything. Luckily that payment wasn't large.
However, now been contacted by "Child Safety Campaign Ltd" (another Manchester location) who are looking for the £499 that I "agreed" to last August (interestingly as I was away in August on holidays). Seems like the nasty little group keep increasing the amounts they want if you've paid once. Phone number withheld/anonymous.

Tried to get the chap (who'd mumbled his name) to provide me with the company address and postcode - for some reason he couldn't remember them - not even the street the office was on. Refused to provide a copy of the alleged phone conversation or side tracked conversation to "we'll send an invoice".
I eventually hung up on him - not after considerable anger on my part.
We'll see if the said invoice materialises and take further action after that if needed.

In the meantime - Action Fraud seems a good way to go - as well as FSB legal services.

 

[AlanRegolo]

Just to add to above - had a call this week from what was definitely the same company/group of people (same exact approach - 'you agreed to support blah blah') under the company name 'Data' rather than 'Child Protection UK LTD'.

 

[alex London]

I had a call last year. (May 2017) I don’t normally answer the phone, but the boss was away and my workload immense. I said I couldn’t agree to anything without written info. 3 days later I receive the pack and the bill. I packaged it all back up and sent it back. They rang abusing me and saying they had recorded my confirmation. And as I told them in the first place, I’m not the decision maker. I told them to send me said recording and they hung up. Today I received another. I told them I wasn’t interested. Again I was told I was recorded. I said I wasn’t interested and hung up. She rang straight back telling me I was rude and she would be coming to London to f***ing b**ch slap the s**t out of me. Like I need low life scum like this threatening me... AVOID

 

[alex London]

I had a call last year. (May 2017) I don’t normally answer the phone, but the boss was away and my workload immense. I said I couldn’t agree to anything without written info. 3 days later I receive the pack and the bill. I packaged it all back up and sent it back. They rang abusing me and saying they had recorded my confirmation. I told them to send me said recording and they hung up. Today I received another. I told them I wasn’t interested. Again I was told I was recorded. I said I wasn’t interested and hung up. She rang straight back telling me I was rude and she would be coming to London to f***ing b**ch slap

 

[KateCB]

Ouch! 199 subscription for what? Sponsorship? Where is the invoice, the signed contract, the copy of the 'verbal agreement'?

 

[KateCB]

You should not rely on Action Fraud too much. I have reported them about invest scam scheme in July with all the names, bank accounts, phone numbers, web sites etc. and finally recieved "we are very busy and will inform you..." letter in October))

I gave bank account details and full name of scammer to action fraud - they took 9 months to write and tell me they did not have enough information to pursue the case.....

 

[Henry N]

This is very helpful. I had almost identical situation this afternoon. Started with a text from person saying he was calling on behalf of bailiffs who were on their way to collect £5,500. I spoke to poice who said to log with Action Fraud (although worryingly they also said that I had to assume it may be legitimate - which I did until I saw this thread). I am about to log now

 

[Newchodge]

Apart from anything else, I have never, ever known of a bailiff who gavce advanced notice of their visit.

Bailiff: We will be there in 3 hours time
Debtor: Could you make it 4, so I have time to finish working on the computer before I hide it from you.

Yeah, right!