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Directory scam uncovered in Westminster
Schools have been warned to be on the lookout for fraudsters posing as classified directory Yellow Pages after a scam was uncovered in Westminster.
Conmen have been tricking innocent victims into parting with £499 or £599 a time to place adverts for what they were told was an online entry in The Yellow Pages, although the company, which calls itself The Yellow Pages 24, has no connections to the genuine directory.
Trading standards officers from Westminster Council seized cheques totalling almost £10,000 sent from schools, colleges and businesses across the UK.
But they warn the fraudsters may be using other variations of the Yellow Pages name and trademark to have fleeced hundreds more schools and businesses, with many unaware they have been conned.
The scammers are also harassing victims by making threatening phone calls, where they demand people sign their forms to cancel an advert they have not even ordered.
Sue Jones, trading standards manager at Westminster Council, said: "The money we have tracked down could just be the tip of the iceberg.
"The fraud is simple, yet has proved highly profitable for those behind it who appear to have been consistently targeting schools, colleges and businesses across the country.
"Busy school staff would not suspect they're the victims of a widespread and systematic fraud as some advertise with Yellow Pages anyway, so when an invoice purporting to be from the company arrives they diligently pay the bill.
"But it is essential all businesses are confident they are dealing with a legitimate firm before parting with their money."
Those targeted are encouraged to transfer money into a German bank account by sending them bogus invoices, or sending cheques to an address in Oxford Street, West End.
The council was alerted to the scam after receiving calls from businesses.
The tell-tale signs of the fraud involve subtle changes to the name, such as adding a number on the end calling the company The Yellow Pages 24, invoices appearing out the blue, and paying money into a German bank account.
A spokesman for Yell Ltd, the publisher of Yellow Pages and online directory yell.com, said: "We take our responsibilities for consumer protection very seriously and as a responsible company are committed to supporting and protecting the users of our products and services and our advertisers.
"We don't hesitate to take legal action if necessary to protect our brand and safeguard our registered trade marks."
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