advertising in Crime & Security Journal .. Worth £100 ??

[spencergate]

I've been cold-called and offered advertising in this Magazine http://crimesecurity.co.uk/.

I have never heard of it, so am I just sheltered, I'm always wary of the 'police magazine' scam, but this seems an elaborate one if it is a scam

I really don't know whether advertising in this type of publication is worth-while anyway. can anyone help ?

 

[TheBlogshop]

A little dig around the website and it seems it's a brand new publication, having launched this month, but my concern is there are no obvious contact details - only a contact form.

Although I'm in no way saying this is a scam, I'm always wary of a business who doesn't offer at least a phone number to contact them on.

 

[spencergate]

A little dig around the website and it seems it's a brand new publication, having launched this month, but my concern is there are no obvious contact details - only a contact form.

Although I'm in no way saying this is a scam, I'm always wary of a business who doesn't offer at least a phone number to contact them on.

Hmm, you are right, no contact details on there. The cold-call I got came from a mobile number too !

Even if it's genuine, I'm probably better spending the money on direct marketing anyway I guess.

 

[TheBlogshop]

If the cold-call came from a mobile number, you really do need to question their professionalism, as well as various other aspects!

 

[S-Marketing]

It doesn't look like the greatest idea to me. As you say, you could spend your £100 more wisely elsewhere. If it is the same business we spoke about some time ago, there will be little need for advertising anyway.

 

[spencergate]

It doesn't look like the greatest idea to me. As you say, you could spend your £100 more wisely elsewhere. If it is the same business we spoke about some time ago, there will be little need for advertising anyway.

Yes, it's the same business. Glad you remembered.

 

[ThePublisher]

Were you approached after registering on Freeindex by any chance? One of my customers asked me for my opinion on this outfit after he'd been contacted. I was doubtful about it given the lack of contact number, and that same sample magazine has been there since January at least (I've been asked about it before by somebody else).

There's nothing on the website which suggests where or to who or how or how many of these will be distributed.

 

[spencergate]

Were you approached after registering on Freeindex by any chance?

Strangely enough, yes. Hmm, there is a very sticky rat around here... I've sent them away with nothing anyway.

 

[yourcreditmanager]

Strangely enough, yes. Hmm, there is a very sticky rat around here... I've sent them away with nothing anyway.

Hi

It's definately a new reincarnation of the charity mag scams...

Check out this link:

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08454672425/2

Just be careful what you say on the phone to these people, one of their tactics is to record telephone discussions and splice bits of conversations so they can claim that you verbally agreed to advertise in their crappy publications. I suspect that having called you once, they will try to call you again and try to wear you down/catch you out... if so just swear at them or blow a whistle down the phone at them

Best wishes

Michael

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

My rule of thumb is that I haven't heard of it then its no good for my business.

I've never understood why people take adverts in publications they have never heard of or seen

 

[Tamarrah]

I have fallen for the offer and thought it was dodgy and even the Trading Standards and Citizens' Advice Bureau I've contacted agreed it might be a scam. So be careful. I've checked their business information and it's quite obscure too.. there are lots of scam notices all over internet about Crime & Security Journal.. better check them up... Some are even on Freeindex.
check the whocallsme.com / Phone-Number.aspx / 08454672425/2

 

[spencergate]

Don't worry, I said no.

 

[Tamarrah]

I did not say no... but I did not pay as they want check payment and they make you agree to forfeit the cancelation period as they start working on the ad straight away... for free... Then they send it and you have to click on "I agree with T & C". What they did probably took them 2 minutes. Well, anyway.. I refuse to pay. And today I have received a "red invoice" - from Wales (although they say they are based in central London).

It will teach me not to be so naive and stupid next time.

 

[ThePublisher]

I'd let them go down the court route. You can always pay if they get judgement against you. I doubt they'll go that far.

 

[Tamarrah]

other people have advised me the same way.. I hope they won't send some sort of debt collectors..

 

[yourcreditmanager]

other people have advised me the same way.. I hope they won't send some sort of debt collectors..

They won't send debt collectors as such but they will write and call you constantly to try to scare you if they think they can wear you down and get you to pay... just laugh at them and tell them to p*ss off!

 

[ThePublisher]

If they start getting threatening, you could of course mention having a chat with your friendly neighbourhood Police......

 

[Tamarrah]

Great, thanks!

 

[D1sc0]

They just rang me and I'm happy to have found this page whilst on the phone to the salesman. I asked him a couple of questions prompted by the previous posts, which he had well prepared answers for. I said (literally) "Thanks, but I'm going to give it miss this time," to which the salesman replied "Yeah I thought so, you prick, goodbye!" then hung up! Yes, he actually said that!! AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

 

[ACAcs]

I got talked into this by a smooth talking salesman who prompted me to look at the website which is very convincing. Afterwards I had an uneasy feeling about it so visited local police to see if it was kosher. They told me to steer well clear of it, so have told them that am not going to pay. An agreement made through misrepresentation is not valid, so we'll see what happens. I'm going to call their bluff and go back to the police if I get any harrassment

 

[Working First Aid]

They just rang me and I'm happy to have found this page whilst on the phone to the salesman. I asked him a couple of questions prompted by the previous posts, which he had well prepared answers for. I said (literally) "Thanks, but I'm going to give it miss this time," to which the salesman replied "Yeah I thought so, you prick, goodbye!" then hung up! Yes, he actually said that!! AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Nice!

Well avoided though. Saved yourself potentially months of headaches...

 

[HertsCCTV]

RUN, RUN, RUN

I get phone calls all the time and now I give my 3yr old the phone to talk to them LOL

 

[D2012]

Wish I had found this site earlier! I have agreed to advertising in the Crime and Security journal, a 1/4 page advert for £195 + vat. I agreed then literally 2 mins later the designer phoned and did the recorded telephone conversation. 5 mins after the phone call I left a voicemail for the initial person I spoke with and emailed the company to say I wanted to cancel. After 40mins I received the 'design' of the advert which must've taken 3 mins to make literally. I replied to this email saying I had already cancelled. I later received an email from a designer and there was a telephone number on it so I called and was told I could not cancel on the telephone and she would pass my message on to the original person I spoke with. He phones and wasn't happy I was cancelling then hung up on me. I then get 3 emails saying I couldn't cancel as per recorded message enclosed. Have phoned the Advertising Protection Agency who are aware of this scam and they say the bogus company will keep sending you invoices and sell your details on even if you pay and if you don't the bogus company will take you to court but escalate the invoice as they start charging you late fees.
Going to try and get legal advice tomorrow to see what they say. Lesson learnt but any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[yourcreditmanager]

.
Going to try and get legal advice tomorrow to see what they say. Lesson learnt but any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hi

You don't need legal advice... these outfits will just huff and puff and try to put the frighteners on you but I'm 99.9% they will do nothing, invite them to sue you and tell them you will defend the matter and counterclaim for harressment, failing that, just swear at them. It worked for me.

Michael

 

[D2012]

Thanks for that Michael. I got 4 harassing phonecalls this morning from a different company called Add Tech Media saying I owed them money, thanks to finding the forums I expected this happen. 3 times I didn't engage in conversation I just said to the guy I knew it was a scam and hung up and the 4th time I answered and left the phone lying then picked it up after 5 mins and hung up, the guy was still wittering away but didn't phone back. They can try all their intimidating tactics if they like. Phoned Trading Standards who are going to call me back. Maybe I should buy a whistle and blast the scammers ear drums if they keep phoning!!

 

[yourcreditmanager]

The whistle works just as well with scheming scouser petty fraudsters as with those lovely people from "Microsoft" in India who phone out of the blue to keep trying to help me fix my PC...

 

[MASSEY]

They won't send debt collectors as such but they will write and call you constantly to try to scare you if they think they can wear you down and get you to pay... just laugh at them and tell them to p*ss off!

Yes i agree. It's not worth getting bothered about, they are low life scum who prey on the people who get scared of their bluffs and pay up. Best thing to do is not engage at all.