IT was a tug to the heartstrings while pulling a fast one, but county businessman Andrew Garrett wasn't fooled.

Andrew, who runs Chips Computer Solutions at Pontrilas, does, however, wonder how many others have been taken in by a shabby 'children's charity' telephone scam targeting county businesses.

The caller this week was cunning; giving away nothing that could come back to a specific charity.

What Andrew got was not much more than someone ringing up to ask for money. And without 'menaces' or some semblance of deception that is difficult to define as an offence.

The caller then referred to an advertisement that Andrew's company had apparently agreed to take out with the 'charity'.

No specific sum was mentioned, again making proof of any offence difficult.

Andrew was suspicious and ended the call. Had he not so he might have found his company inundated with letters increasingly threatening in their demand for payment.

Some cite recordings of calls as proof of agreement.

The Trading Standards team at Herefordshire Council have several telephone scams on their books, all variations on the 'children's charity' and all targeting small businesses.