Pubs warned over fresh wave of scams

Pubs are facing a fresh wave of scams, as perpetrators seek to exploit licensees' desperate efforts to deal with the economic climate.

Firms offering to help pubs challenge new astronomical ratings bills are on the rise in particular, after many pubs were hit with a huge hike in their rateable value last year.

Punch Taverns says it has seen a "marked increase" in licensees that have been charged "excessive" fees of £500 or more for rouge rating services.

Neil Griffiths, Punch's property director, said: "Licensees should always exercise extreme caution if they are approached by anyone who claims to guarantee significant reductions in rateable value.

"The reality is these rogue services often entice licensees to sign a contract and pay upfront for an agreement which can then tie them for all future revaluations with associated cost implications and in some cases, rent reviews as well."

Michael Yass, ratings expert at property agents Fleurets, said licensees should be wary if they asked to sign a document or pre-printed contract by a ratings company.

"It's a warning sign," he said. "And any company you deal with should be part of either RICS, the IRRV (Institute of Revenues, Rating & Valuation) or the RSA (Rating Surveyors Association).

The Office of Fair Trade (OFT) has also warned that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated and manipulative tactics. As it launched its 2010 Scams Awareness Month, the OFT highlighted that 73 per cent of people have received an email scam in the last year.

Meanwhile, a well-known scam involving fake bookings for rooms has also reappeared.

John Bellinger, licensee at the Bell Inn, Adderbury, Oxfordshire, contacted The Publican after he was emailed about a booking at his pub. The prospective customer said he was enquiring on behalf of "four newly ordained priests from Greece" who were visiting for a "seven-day religious programme".

John replied to the enquiry suggesting it was a scam and has not back from the prospective customers.

"We are very wary of these types of emails now," he said.

Previous scams have seen scammers book by credit card, then attempt to claim cashback off the licensee.

Anyone wanting to report a scam should visit: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty.