Dyfed-Powys Police is warning Carmarthenshire businesses to be aware of a scam currently in operation where callers claim to be from the local police station or charities selling advertising opportunities in a magazine being produced by the police.

Increasing numbers of small businesses are being targeted by “rogue publishers” claiming to be selling advertising space in publications such as crime prevention advice booklets or charity newsletters.

They often request anything up to £1,000 for business advertising space in the publication. However the adverts fail to materialise and the company can become persistent and aggressive in pursuing their money.

Fraudsters can appear genuine because they reproduce governmental statistics such as crime figures taken from government websites, and use authentic photos in publications which deceive the public.

Often victims are targeted annually by the same advertising agency, to renew their advert in the same publication. Phone calls can be recorded when small business agree to pay for advertisements and the fraudsters claim they can use this as evidence of a verbally agreed contract.

Invoices have been sent to some businesses for advertisement services which they did not consent to. Repeated phone calls and letters demanding payment for the invoices has led people to pay the requesting companies to cease correspondence.

Officers say they are receiving increasing numbers of reports from businesses targeted in the scam.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman urged businesses not to provide any financial or other details to such callers.