This is an age old scam. They call up and say they are, or represent, the police, the ambulance service, the fire brigade or neighborhood watch. They throw in a heart string story like kids, women or the vulnerable, then lie about a magazine or calendar that will be circulated to a group of people (who, if real, would neither read it nor invest in your business). An extension of this scam is where they send you and quote that looks like an invoice and an unsuspecting small or medium business that does not have detailed records will just pay it. They will keep sending you similar quotes that look like invoices, or simply invoice and then threaten you when you don't pay.

Do not give them your email. Do not approve/accept any offer and then make sure you come to this site and write your experience down quoting the number they use (because the constantly change their number).

An observation that I make is that actually thing the callers themselves don't know it's a scam. That is, there is a parent scam company that sets up the whole facade, then they 'employ' retirees or those who don't know better to cold call a list of numbers they are provided to plug a product they don't know is real. For every successful sale, the caller gets a commission. I can't be sure this is exactly how it works, but the last guy I called sounded like a grandpa, didn't understand how IT worked and seemed to be reading a script. Again, I can't be positive this his how it works, but it seems logical that the parent scammer company sources the numbers, employs the suckers, then scams the unsuspecting.

Scam companies to be aware of within this scheme are:
1. CountryWide Austral
2. Street Smart Handbook

Caller: Old man claiming to be from Neighbourhood Watch

Wanted to offer my organisation the chance for some free advertising in a local paper. Said he was from the Victorian branch office. When I started asking a few questions he said don't worry and hung-up.

Caller: 0435 234 994

I didn't answer, and no voicemail was left.
After reading the comments here I have blocked the number and added it to my dodgy contacts list!

Caller: Said his name was Com

old man, after money for Neighbourhood watch. Obviously a scammer.

I had a call from this number. Sounded like a retiree - male. Said he was from the neighbourhood watch and asked if I was the owner or a ‘named’ small business. When I asked him why he wanted to know he immediately hung up. He tried to call back 5mins later but I didn’t answer the call.