Businesses Asked To be Wary Of Book Selling Scam For Local Schools

8th May 2007

Head Teachers in Caithness are concerned that local businesses may be approached to sponsor books. The schools know nothing about these approaches by a company selling the books. Local businesses are approached and asked to sponsor books on a certain subject - often road safety or drug education or health related matters. They are asked for money and specific schools are mentioned BUT the schools are completely ignorant of this. In most cases the material is of no use as it is not suitable and even if it is suitable, very little use is made of it as the schools already have programmes for most health topics which have resources which they like.

Schools feel very bad that local businesses are being conned in this way as it really has nothing to do with them.

A Joint Letter hasbeen issued by
Hugh Fraser, Director Education, Culture & Sport and David Alston, Chair of HDAAT -

It has come to our attention that a company named 'Child Protection UK' has recently contacted local businesses in Highland with a view to sponsor materials to 'their local primary schools'. The materials sold by Child Protection UK are not endorsed by The Highland Council Education, Culture and Sport nor our partners in the Highland Drug and Alcohol Action Team.

Through your links with local businesses, you may wish to highlight this fact in case local firms are approached by salespersons. We are sure that you will be able to advise them appropriately if they do wish to make a donation or otherwise support their local schools.

Update
Local Firm Thwarts School Book Scam
A local Caithness firm has been in touch with us to say they thwarted the book scam being tried on them. They requested a tape of the conversation where they were alleged to have agreed to the payment for the books. The Caithness firm asked for tape of the conversation. that was not forthcoming. However a bill for £300 arrived which had to be paid before the books would be delivered to the school. the firm alluded to another mythical conversation claiming it was a verbal contract. The Caithness firm demanded a copy of the tape of the conversation once again. It has never arrived. In all this the name of local head teacher was used without her permission. All businesses should be on the alert for this scam and for bills that may appear shortly afterwards. Don't Get Caught - Warn All Caithness Businesses and elsewhere if you have contacts. We recommend all businesses send all details to Trading Standards as soon as possible if you are contacted by a firm doing this.