Letter scam targets firm

12:22pm Friday 5th January 2007

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A LETTER scam targeting small firms has made its way to Malvern, a town businesswoman has warned.

Janice French, who owns Headmaster's Hairdressing Salon on the Fruitlands estate, first fell victim three years ago when she was invoiced for £1,500 by the company European City Guide.

Now the firm has contacted her again asking if she wants her details updating on its CD Rom, which advertises businesses on the continent.

Mrs French refused to pay the money in 2003 but was bombarded with letters and phone calls from ECG until she told the firm she was in contact with Stop ECG, a group fighting to try to put it out of business.

"The letter ECG sent me was very, very misleading," said Mrs French. "I just don't want anyone to be fooled by this."

The Office of Fair Trading says it has received hundreds of complaints from businesses about ECG, including several from Malvern firms.

Stop ECG said several Malvern businesses had been in touch to say they had been targeted. They include CSD Controls on Spring Lane, Universal Systems Ltd, Jetcam UK Ltd, Malvern Business Academy, Aquarius on Abbey Road, Arthur Walton & Partners, and Adrian Evans.

Tim Thorne, from Trading Standards, confirmed that ECG has been bought to its attention many times because people did not realise that they were entering into a contract with the company.

"If you feel you were misled into it then don't pay," he said. "It is regrettably just one of many scams that operates throughout the year, targeting small businesses."

Mr Thorne said that as ECG was based abroad there was nothing Trading Standards could do to stop it from operating, but that people should be on their guard. He said that although it had made many threats, ECG has never taken anyone to court.

To contact Stop ECG, visit www. stopecg.org.