Scam warning over travel guide
Citizens Advice, in its European Consumer Centre (ECC) role, has issued a warning to UK businesses to beware of a scam involving a Spanish company that tricks firms into buying thousands of pounds worth of advertising space in a travel guide.
The ECC, which is operated by Citizens Advice in the UK, has warned businesses not to sign and return any material from the European City Guide.
Under the scam, businesses are sent mailshots offering them advertising space in the directory and giving them the impression that entries are free.
However, the small print means that firms that sign and return an enclosed form – even if simply correcting or adding to the details provided – are committed to paying more than £1,000 for entries into the directory.
A Spanish court shut down the guide, then based in Barcelona, and fined it the equivalent of £200,000 in 2003 for its deceitful advertising. The Spanish authorities had received thousands of complaints from companies about the guide.
But the company is now operating from a new address in Valencia and the ECC is aware that a new wave of mailshots has been sent out to businesses.
ECC manager Ruth Bamford said: “This is a scam where people mistakenly sign a contract thinking they are getting free advertising but then end up being pestered for thousands of pounds. We would urge businesses not to sign anything and to contact the Spanish authorities if they receive such a mailing.”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
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