Free website

You are cold-called by someone. They are adding entries to a Free website and can they have your details, please? You hear the words 'Entry' and 'Free'. However, you will find that although the Website is Free to the visitor, it will cost you to have your entry on it. An invoice will follow backed up by a statement that the telephone conversation was recorded and that you have entered into a verbal Contract. Non-payment will result in the heavy-handed debt collector approach (or at least threats).

Unfortunately, you are unlikely to have a copy of the conversation yourself.

Only advice I can offer is, if you care cold called in this way ask clearly what the cost to you will be for the advert and if they say 'It's a free website' repeat your question ad infinitum. Or hang up, or course.

If you have been scammed in this way, then contact your local Trading Standards officer. He or she should be able to advise on the best course of action, which may include going to the wire (them taking you to the small claims Court) at which point they may well give up as there are softer touches around and they would probably lose. If they are going to use the recording as evidence, then you are legally entitled to have a copy beforehand. Asking for this may be enough to put them off taking you to Court as it is unlikely that they will bother to go to the effort of supplying you with a copy.

Pamphlet for schools

You are cold called about a pamphlet being produced locally for distribution around schools. It might be about 'drugs awareness' or something similar and they may claim to be producing it 'in conjunction with the local Police'. 'Do you want to sponsor it?'

In reality, there is no such brochure, or a very poor one and it is certainly not involving the local Police, but you will be sent an invoice. Follow the advice above.

Data Protection

Official Letter from a Government Data Protection Agency pointing out that all Companies need to Register with the Information Commissioner.

You do need to register if you are holding personal data of any type, but it is a very straightforward process and only costs £35 or thereabouts. These Agencies will either take your money and run or register on your behalf, charging, say £85 for 10 minutes work.

Ignore them and contact the Commissioner directly for an Application Form (or at least verify independently that what you have been sent is genuine).

You are cold-called by a Broker offering very low priced shares in some American Company about to make Megabucks.

Think - if it is so good, why are they offering them to you instead of keeping them to themselves. Ignore any poverty pleas or "'we're not allowed to deal". They could raise the money somehow if it was that good.

Often these shares are in a special category 'pink sheets' (or OTCBB - Over the Counter Bulletin Board) which has restrictions that mean they cannot be sold for 12 months (at which point everyone will be tryng to sell). Generally the Broker has subscribed to a very large number at fractions of a cent each. They are then sold onto you for a few cents, making them vast profits and you cannot sell them for 12 months or more, by which time they have bombed.

The Broker, despite any claims to the contrary is not based in the UK and you have no protection. Don't touch them.

Buying land for future development
(Land banking)

Tracts of land are for sale promising riches should they ever get planning permission.

This land has been purchased cheaply by a Broker, parcelled up and sold on to punters in the hope that planning permission will be granted as regular land becomes in ever shorter supply.

This land is greenbelt land or similar and it will be hundreds of years, if ever that it will get development permission. You will never get any form of return on your money.

You get an email, text or telephone message from someone that you have never heard of claiming to want to speak to you. They leave an office and/or mobile number for you to call them back on

Example:

Hello there, my name is Rob Marks and I work for TRH Ltd. I would like to talk with you at your earliest convenience. Is there a good time for me to contact you? If you could call me back my number is 07012 xxx xxx. My office number is 0871 xxx xxxx, however, I'm not in the office this week, so it's best to get me on my mobile. I look forwards to speaking soon, Best Rgs Rob Tel: 07012 xxx xxx

The person or Company does not exist. Both numbers given are Premium Rate numbers (even the 07xx number) and there will be something at the other end fooling you into hanging on for as long as possible - "Please Hold you are in a queue" for example. At £1.50 per minute.

Google the numbers if you are unsure whether the calls are genuine.

A variant is to call you, then hang up immediately. You dial 1471 to get the number if necessary, then call them back if you are the enquiring type. If it's that urgent, then let them call you back!