Day Trip Media: I Got Scammed... Again

Monday, 28 April 2008

I Got Scammed... Again

Pwnd!1!! Oh boy, I always thought I was pretty good when it came to looking after security. Always telling folks about phishing, keeping virus protection updated, not answering letters to people wanting to move money, don't get caught out on eBay, fake domain invoices, etcetera. Whilst I may have had my eyes open to online and related fraud, I've not really looked at business related fraud in the past, but today I got myself a good old fashioned wake up call, and I'm preparing myself for an ongoing battle with the scammers.

My security leanings were all well and good for the online world, but back here in running my business world, it seems I've been targeted by some rogue publishers. The scam is this, they phone you up (being a new business) and give you a load of spiel on they're bringing out a charity / police / fire service / wedding planning magazine. Which ever niche they go for, they tell you it's going out to local business and would you like an ad as they don't yet have someone in your sector to go in the mag. So on and so forth. They calls keep coming, and even though you've said no, they try to make out you've agreed to it. Maybe they ring up after a couple of months of making the first call, maybe they tell you someone else in the business said yes, whatever, the patter's designed to bludgeon you into submission.

I'd already fallen for it once, and placed an ad (costing £150) in some local police magazine that was going out to businesses locally. I don't need to advertise like that, but I thought 'what the hell,' a bit of brand recognition won't hurt, there may be other similar businesses out there who see it and maybe want to meet, trade ideas, etcetera. To be honest there was also a bit of vanity involved as well on my part, thinking it nice to see the business in print. So, fed up with the wave of calls I'd gotten I caved and said yes. They sent out the artwork, I paid up. I was none the wiser.

Today I got a call from a company I think are called Millennium Media. I say think, because the accent of the heavy caller is Scouse, and a bit difficult to follow at the speed he talks. He says we spoke a couple of months back and I agreed an ad. Now, I cast my mind back and recall the conversation back in February, and I also recall saying I wasn't interested at the time as I had just taken an ad out in another magazine. At the time I thought nothing of it as I thought I'd stood my ground and said no. After placing the first ad, I said to myself that was something I would never do again.

So this call I get today, the guy (John Anderson and Amberton) is telling me they are ready to send out the artwork for my approval for the ad in the Crime Stoppers magazine. I tell him I'm not interested. He brings up a password I gave him last time we spoke - Spam Tin. I recall making it up on the spot when I spoke to him last as a bit of a piss take. If I can recall correctly, he said if I can contact you again, we'll set up a password. It certainly wasn't in relation to placing an order, but he tries telling me it was. Having none of this, he hangs up telling me he'll call back.

So I'm very wound up at this point and get searching and quickly find out what's going on here. It's not a pretty scene, there are hundred of people out there who've fallen foul of this. There are lots of different outfits trying the scam, one of the most covered is a company called Vardis. Worse, it seems I can expect more to come including threats of legal action for the money for the advert I didn't place, harassment over the phone and more sneaky behaviour. The idea is that people will roll over at the threat of legal action and court appearances, but that's all they are, threats.

From what I've read, the debt collection agency that starts sending out the threatening mail is the same as the company that runs the ads. I can't find an example of anyone having been taken to court as frankly, the company don't have a leg to stand on. That said they try to bully their victims into compliance with jargon and underhand tactics.

One such tactic involves sending you the proofs of the artwork by registered mail, so you have to sign for it. Then they say because you've signed for it you've agreed a contract. I've also read reports of them faking acceptance tapes to try and convince you that you have a legal contract with them, or that it can be used as evidence in court. From what I've read that's nonsense as well, the OFT says a tape like that doesn't prove a contract is in place without the written contract.

Finding all this out has made me realise that the first ad I placed was a mistake. I doubt the magazine has ever seen the light of day. I don't think I can expect to see a copy as I was told.

As for this new attempt on my bank balance, this is my battle plan and what I'm expecting, I've informed the wife to be on alert. Any registered mail that looks like it could be from them will not be signed for. Any further calls will be ignored and finished promptly. Any threats will be ignored, especially written threats about filling court proceedings etc. Any correspondence that should arrive unregistered will be replied to in no uncertain terms about a cancellation. I've started a log of events and will also try and figure out how to record calls should I get another one. Going by what I've read, I should expect another one. If it escalates I will contact the police, OFT and Trading Standards. From what I've read, all three of these bodies are well aware of this sort of shady practice.

I feel a lot better now. I felt really stupid earlier, and angry at my stupidity. The more I recall the phone call I got today, the more I can see that they were fishing for stuff to use against me. But now I've read up on this and learnt what's going on, I'm feeling prepared and ready for them to make the next move. It should be fun if nothing else. Here's some of the stuff I've read up on today that you might find useful if you find yourself here in the same situation.

So why am I bringing this up in public - on my business website of all places? Well, maybe it might save someone else falling for the same rip-off. It's also cathartic, I've spent most of the afternoon angry with myself and also a bit peeved I wasn't awake to what goes on. If I can save someone else those feelings then all the better. And it's not just this advertising scam, I've got a feeling I'll see more of this. I've already had a non-invoice for a branded stationary along with a sample. I'm pretty sure it's all coming from the same scummy underbelly of business praying on business. Sigh, I can tell you now, I won't fall for it again.

Posted by Dio Bach at 20:08

1 Comments:

gadget said...: Good for you for bringing this to everyone's attention. Thanks.; 29 April 2008 21:17