Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

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WARNING: misleading advertising sales calls for "Bluelight Magazine"

We have had a number of queries from suppliers lately saying they have been contacted by a company called "Sigma" or "Sigma Publishing", trying to sell them advertising in a publication called "Bluelight Magazine". The reports we have are that the sales technique is incredibly aggressive and aimed at getting a verbal agreement to an ad then sending an invoice the same day without any proof it's gone into a valid publication.

We would just like to state that the "Bluelight Magazine" and "Sigma Publishing" are not associated with the Bluelight eTendering website (www.bluelight.gov.uk) in any way. A couple of suppliers have informed us that "Sigma" have told them the magazine has been produced in conjunction with the "Police Federation", or that they are actually from the police federation or an individual Police service.

I have therefore contacted the Police Federation, who state they only produce the national Police Federation magazine called "Police" and although some individual forces may have their own in-house publications, they have never heard of "Sigma" or "Bluelight Magazine". They also added they had a number of queries direct to them of a similar nature reporting a different company called "Mode PR" selling advertising and purporting to be from the Police Federation.

We are not saying that neither "Sigma Publishing " or "Mode PR" aren't legitimate publishing companies, or that the "Bluelight Magazine" isn't a valid publication, however they are in no way associated with the Police Federation, or the Bluelight eTendering website, therefore please be aware if you are contacted by either of them, and should you wish to report them please contact either your local trading standards or "Action Fraud", details at www.actionfraud.org.uk.

Linda Sykes
Bluelight e-Procurement Systems Administrator
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
Middlemoor, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HQ

11th January 2012