An occasional feature, prepared in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Professional Standards Directorate, to highlight problems and inquiries currently being handled
Pharmacists may be aware of a scheme being operated by a company in the north west of England, which purports to produce a publication aimed at schools.
The company canvasses pharmacists (and other retailers) to place advertisements in the magazine by telephone, requesting payment in advance of publication.
A letter is then sent to the pharmacy with a "draft" advertisement and demand for money. Sometimes a personal call is made to the pharmacy by a "representative" asking for payment and showing a "copy" of the publication.
The document is never published or circulated.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Professional Standards Directorate has heard that a similar scheme involving a publication about cancer awareness is being operated.
There will be many reputable organisations seeking advertisers, and in order to prevent hardship to them, pharmacists are advised that if any organisation seeks payment in advance, they should check that the organisation is reputable. A call to directory inquiries, for example, would identify whether the organisation exists. Further inquiries may be necessary in some cases.