Police in Warwickshire are urging members of the business community to be on their guard against telephone callers claiming to be representing the police and asking for money to pay for advertising in police associated publications.

The police have received calls from a number of businesses who have been targeted by cold callers asking for details of their business address. The caller then calls back later asking for payment for advertising and stationery.

Peter Giullaume from the Business Crime Unit at Warwickshire Police advised businesses that if the caller claims to be from the police they should always ask for a telephone number to call them back on.

"If they claim to be from the police ask for a land line number to call them back on. Do not accept a mobile number. You can then check that number with Warwickshire Police to see if it is a genuine call.

But he added, "In general Warwickshire Police does not make cold calls to ask for information about a business, we would make a personal call to the premises. In addition Warwickshire Police does not produce any publications which require support advertising by local businesses, so we would not make phone calls to businesses asking for them to take out advertising.

"If you are contacted by a caller claiming to be selling advertising on behalf of Warwickshire Police the advice is the same, ask them for a land line number to contact them on and also the name of the police officer they are working with so you can check the validity of their call."

Once you have a telephone number you pass the details on to the police.

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