Alert over bogus salesmen
2:30pm Friday 29th August 2008
Bogus advertising salesmen are attempting to collect money for a fake fire awareness leaflet, trading standards warned today.
The alert follows a phone call made to the Rose and Crown pub in Charlton, near Banbury, offering advertising space in a leaflet on fire safety.
The caller claimed it was sponsored by local businesses to raise money for firefighters.
Suspicious staff contacted the fire service and today revealed it was fake.
Oxfordshire chief fire officer John Parry said: "We are very grateful to the Rose and Crown pub for alerting us to this bogus caller.
"The fire and rescue service is greatly appreciative of the fantastic support it receives from the public and it is appalling someone should try to take advantage of the good will of Oxfordshire residents and businesses."
Anyone who receives such a call should contact Oxfordshire County Council's trading standards on 0845 051 0845.