TRADERS are being told to be wary of sales calls from fake publishing companies claiming to work for charities.

Investigators from the Department of Trade and Industry say the cold callers schemes demand payment from firms to advertise in fundraising publications which are non-existent.

Steve Haslam, who owns 1-2-1 music, a musical instrument shop in Bradshawgate, Leigh, complained to local Trading Standards officers after he was contacted by 14 companies.

He started receiving calls in October, 2004, and they continued for more than a year.

Mr Haslam said he had paid for one advert in a charity publication with which he was satisfied.

"But then I started getting calls that were sometimes downright abusive, demanding payment or follow-up adverts from companies I had never heard of," he said.

"I am a sole trader and sometimes it is not possible to keep a full record of every advert you place everywhere. They take advantage of that."

Mr Haslam received demands for sums between £250 and £450, but discovered that the schemes were bogus.

"When I asked to see what they produced, I was sent shoddy booklets that had been done on word- processing software. A child could have done it." he said.

The fake publishers ask for donations or to place adverts in publications including charity booklets, emergency services magazines, and children's hospital activity books, but few are even printed.

Gerry Sutcliffe, a Minister at the Department of Trade and Industry, said: "The actions of these people are reprehensible.

"They are preying on the goodwill of honest businessmen and women and diverting much-needed money away from good causes. Our investigators won't hesitate to shut them down."

Andrew Hind, chief executive of the Charity Commission said: "Business and the public can play a big role in reducing this kind of abuse by making sure their money goes to a genuine fund-raiser and not to crooks.

"It's easy to check if a charity is genuine or not by check our register of charities at www.charity-commission.co.uk."

The Department of Trade also provides information at its website: www.dti.gov.uk