Several local business owners have reported being asked to pay for advertising in a magazine to support a local fire brigade or local fire station. This is a scam as Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) does not carry out any marketing in this way.

HWFRS has received several calls from concerned local businesses across the two counties who have been cold called by telephone. The caller requests payment for advertising to support HWFRS or a ‘local fire brigade’ or ‘local fire station’. These calls are not genuine and payments should not be made.

Area Commander Jon Pryce said: "One business owner contacted us saying they received a call from a very insistent salesperson, that called from a withheld number, several times asking for £395.00 for advertising in the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service magazine. When asked to email the advertising rates through, the caller refused but organised to call back again later that day.”

He continued: “We are very concerned that people are using our name to carry out fraudulent activities. Anyone who receives any similar call should not agree to pay any money or enter into any kind of contract. HWFRS does not carry out any such activities in relation sales or marketing. Our advice is to get as much detail as possible, including a name and number and report it to Trading Standards and or Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud