02089564065

I had one of these calls this morning 7/8/13.
William sounding like he was chewing on a wasp said he was calling from the Diplomatic Information office
wanting to talk to MD and was not at liberty to discuss with me!!

020 8956 4033

I suspected something and googled the number and found this log, which is great but I wish there was something more we could do like report them to the authorities!!

I also called him back and challenged him, told him I was aware he was a fraud and was going to report him!  Was very nice to hear him stutter and not have an answer for me!

Where do they operate from?
Surely we need to do more than naming and shaming?
Can't we report them to someone?

Just had the same call as everyone else on this here......
This time its the "Diplomatic Information Office" on 02089564033 and a "William Taylor" trying to sound "old English"..... very poor effort really.....
Same old boiler room nonsense so don't bother - but be warned - THESE CALLS ARE DEFINITELY A SCAM.....!!

Just had a call from Mary Jenkins about a government initiative for Health Clubs.  She said Vince Cable was involved.  I am going to try and report this as they used his name.  She told me that she was definitely not trying to sell anything but had to talk to the MD as the information was sensitive!
I am also very glad of this site.
Beware - they have another number - 0208 956 4033

Received a call on 6th Aug from James Winthorpe regarding a diplomatic and government initiative on focusing on excellence in aviation and wanted to speak to the MD.  Told him MD was out and took number.  0208 956 4033

He just called back and I said "oh yes you called a couple of weeks ago" which he denied and said this was his first call to the company and wanted to speak to the MD.  I told him that he was not available and he asked when he could call him back.  I told him to email, which he refused to do due to senstive government information.  He said he would leave his number, at which point I reeled it off to him, and he was a bit taken aback asking when he was supposed to have called previously.  I told him and he said it was most likely one of his juniors saying they were calling for James Winthorpe - I said rubbish, it was him but if it was a junior then that was bad as they were pretending to be him.  He was a bit flustered at this point and said he would have to pass this one to Vince Cable to sort out!  Ha ha, what an idiot.  Very stupid plummy voice, which I ended up mimicking!

Took a call from Alexander King of the Parliamentary Information Office. Initially told me that he represented the DCLG and had connections with Eric Pickles. I realised early on from his ludicrously fake "posh" accent, that this was a scam, and checked this site to confirm.

However, I had abit of fun by getting him to explain the whole deal and make out like I was very keen. When he rang back today (23rd Aug 13) I asked him why he was not on linkedin, and was told he did not understand technology, then I asked him where he was educated, "Oxford" was the reply, which college? "Kings". There is no Kings college in Oxford.

Eventually I told him he was a fraud, and would report him to various government departments. Incredibly he admitted he was a fraud and hung up!

I had this type of call from a women but was a blocked number I had received this blocked call for a few days (I don't tend to answer blocked calls). She was very persistent and was keen to "flatter me" and state very clearly that i was a selected jewellery expert and only five other companies have been short listed for this prestigious Year Book supported by Vince Cable. I am only a small sole trader Jeweller designer / maker whom aims to punch above her weight. I was encouraged to part with around £5k at first and when I stated that simply was not going to happen. It dropped to around £500 for a smaller article. I said that if they liked my work so much and considered what i have to say was so very good they should provide me with a free space. Steer clear no matter what they say.

Just had call from Edward Jones. From the diplomatic information service... frightfully toffee nosed voice.... hilarious...  of course couldn't speak to me as the PA.... shame I'm married to the boss then!!!

Just to let you know, Oriel college in Oxford used to be called Kings, and it still is referred to as Kings. I studied there with someone called Alex King, was a great guy-doubt it's the same person though

You don't half type rubbish.       Oriel will celebrate its 700th anniversary in 2026 after being La Oriole since the 14th Century, gradually distorted to Oriel.

Still, there are quite a few other posts in this thread intended to divert with irrelevant rubbish.

I've just had the same call from "Vivian Fox" saying that my boss was an expert in her field and left the number that everyone else has given. Googled DIO then the phone number. So glad I found this thread. Will NOT be passing this message on!

Had a "Diplomatic Information Office", which to my knowledge does not in fact exist, call from 020 8956 4033, flogging some line about being selected for excellence, showcasing opportunity and generally matching the MO described above right down to speech patterns. Agreed to pass number to director, but that obviously won't be happening.

Talks like a scam, walks like a scam, but who knows, they may actually publish a few copies just to remain on the right side of the law.

Stay well clear.

Had a call initially from A VIvian Fox (not on LinkedIn/Google) trying to sell advertising space in The 'Diplomatic & Consular Yearbook' http://www.diplomaticandconsular.com originally £2750+VAT pressuring to book me in I sat on it as wanted to check out the company etc and couldn't afford it plus had an email from her PA Simon Barker with a brief synopsis of what the Yearbook was about etc. Then had numerous (relentless) phone calls which I ignored and a message left by a Tom Collins (Project Director - not on LinkedIn/Google). I ignored for a week as too busy and then called him back whereby he offered a more preferential rate which I thought more realistic so sent an email confirming this which I have now recalled having just found this website after more Google searching under Tom Collins. The so called publishers are a company called The Blake Orgainsation or 'Blake Media' which has a 'dubious' website http://www.theblakeorganisation.com.
STAY CLEAR!!!

had a messgae this morning on my answerphone asking me to call back a Felicity Hawk on the same number as the below. She said it was a message for me and that it was her direct number. What is the Diplomatic Information Office? Scam...I am glad I read this thread. Thanks

Hi all,

I have previously worked for this company, they are not Parliamentary Information Office but known as Blake Media (the government cannot stop Blake's from using PIO; this is why the company has not been shut for 30 years). Owned by David Blake and Judith Briers (disqualified directors in the past). With helping hands of Ben Wiser who manages the sales staff (refers himself to Tom Collins on the phone as Project Director or Finance Director).

The staff use 'fake names' as it helps with a new posh character (that's what the employees are told) but the real reason the employees are made to change their names, the names do not  appear on sites such as Who Called me etc.

The Parliamentary Yearbook is a scam, a pack of leads are provided to each staff with their own section (excellence in ............) and all are given a script to call find our MD names and pitch them.

Companies are told there will only be 6 sections with your industry as centrepiece topic, each section only with 6 companies each, with contributions from Ministers. That's a lie.. there have been at least 50 sections in this year alone and companies being scammed to believe such things is disgusting.

The plan for the company is to get the person on the other side of the phone (a decision maker) to get excited upon the idea and sign up for the YB. In return the company only wants a short confirming sentence via email to confirm your attention to be involved, so they don't invoice you until a few months where their terms and conditions come in handy, and companies are forced to pay up.

Please Note: what is said by the employees on the phone will never be confirmed in writing this is why companies are not able to prove anything the company has promised, the things that's will never be confirmed by e-mail will be:
- The companies already on board
- Ministers heading this project up
- You will be one of the final 6 that will appear etc.

So, the prices appear as 500 Words (£2750) and 1000 Words (£4950). If you are a non-for-profit org (£950) but this price is there for companies that cannot afford the full price to Mr Tom Collins above steps in as a second voice to be generous and offer at that price.

Once the booking message is in, the employee gets paid the commission and that's how the company operates, they will continue to run as a org as they do not confirm anything in writing but only over the phone so you as a company who has signed up will never be able to do anything expect pay.

Horrible operation, please be careful and do not take any cold callers or believe what the other person on the phone is saying, there are legitimate originations out there so please ask companies to confirm what they have promised you or email you their details before you give your personal details.

I hope this helps!
If you have any questions I will check back and see if I can help anyone by reposting.

Just picked up a message from Viven Fox - the 4th in 3 weeks.
Thankfully I'm never in when she calls!

Vivian Fox called for me too - saying how incredibly difficult it had been to get to me (ugh)
Would I like to showcase my incredible success to wealthy diplomats in the UK (along with Kelly Hoppen)!!!
Her number 0208 956 4033

I keep receiving calls from a well spoken gentleman called 'Brian' (If that is his name!!!) who appeared to have a mouth full of marbles when he spoke!! His number was 0208 956 4033, He made it sound very interesting and worth doing from a business point of view, I confirmed this in an e-mail. After speaking with a colleague we decided to do it in 2014 instead, my collegue spoke to 'Brian' and informed him we are not going to proceed this year, but to contact us in 2014. 'Brian' seemed fine with this, but then we recently recieved another call from 'Brian' who informed me that we have commited and will therefore have to pay a cancellation fee and will be sent a invoice. Has anyone else experienced a cancellation fee invoice from this company and if so what was the outcome? Glad I found this thread.