SMALL businesses are being urged to hang up on cold-callers selling advertising in publications that they say support the emergency services or charities.
The warning came from North Yorkshire County Council's trading standards officers and the Office of Fair Trading.
It follows complaints about the sales tactics of some telesales companies, particularly sales staff making false claims about links to the emergency services or charitable organisations.
They are also concerned about false claims that businesses have already agreed to buy advertising space, and demands for payment when no such agreements were made.
Trading standards head Graham Venn said: "Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to these types of unfair business practice.
"We advise all businesses to be wary. Do not be pressured or tricked into agreeing to advertising you do not want or into paying for something you have not requested."
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