02089564065

The "Ex-Employee" post of 22 September is entirely consistent with a call I experienced yesterday. Thank you very much.  The initial caller (with a very plumby voice) introduced himself as "John Francis".  The second caller (with a rather camp voice), who claimed to be John Francis's PA, introduced himself as "Simon".  (A "Simon Barker" is referred to on other posts on this site.)  Another name mentioned during the call was "Brian O'Connor" and this was the person who I was told would liaise with me once I had sent an email (the required wording of which was dictated to me) to confirm a sponsorship commitment to contribute either 1,000 words (£4,950) or 500 words (£2,750) to a feature on "Excellence in Forensic Accounting" in the Diplomatic and Consular Yearbook.  (Why on earth would a reader of this annual publication be interested in forensic accounting?) I was told that this opportunity would be limited to only 6 forensic accounting specialists, that our company had been selected from a shortlist of 10, and that 4 companies had already committed. The initial caller ("John Francis") telephoned me again this morning in an attempt to hasten receipt of my confirmatory email.  I explained that I had undertaken a modicum of research (this site having been very informative - thank you) from which I had concluded this was a rather pathetic Boiler Room operation.  He ended the call immediately without appearing to be in the slightest bit surprised by my comment (which speaks volumes).  If you receive a call offering you an opportunity to sponsor anything to do with the Diplomatic and Consular Yearbook, don't be fooled.  Hang up immediately.  But please report the incident on this site as it may prevent others from being deceived.

They must be doing the rounds, I have had a call guy called Justin asked for the MD directly and said the was from the Diplomatic Business Office and said it was a matter only to discuss with the MD.
I have just done the same and googled the direct line they gave me.
The first time when i answered i could hear him swearing in the background so hung up and then he called again.
The number he ledt me was 020 8956 4035.

Just had a call from a "Nicholas Crown" giving exactly the same BS described by the ex-employee, pretty much word for word. The most ridiculous plummy false accent you could imagine - almost comical. Anyway I quickly realised it was probably a scam and told him so. He denied it but when I said I wasn't interested he cleared off.

What a way to earn a living....

Having also heard from the Diplomatic & Business Office (Simon Barker and Ben Parker), I decided to play along in the hope of extracting more than just their email which contains the "trap line" that they hope their targets will cut and paste into a reply email. Unfortunately a request for their bank details and proprietors' names and addresses may have frightened them off. Read the full account here and you will soon see why I was perhaps the worst target they could have picked: http://davidcooperbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/1 ... r-yearbook.html

James Conway

01208 956 4035

Diplomatic Business office

New number for these scammers

You lot don't even know the half of it. I worked there ten years ago and back then, the manager was this little Jewish crackhead of pensionable age who was seen sat in his car at lunchtimes smoking from a crackpipe. Understandable really, cos you probably needed drugs to get through it. I didn't have access to any so left fairly quickly. They employ loads of South Africans and out-of-work drama school types. No wonder they're out of work if they can't even do a convincing toff accent. Never understood the toff accent bit either, but it was always the way. Strange bunch of [***], don't fall for any of it.

Just had a call from "John Robert" from the Diplomat Business Office asking to speak to the MD. Exactly the same as other reports on here- a voice that sounds like it pisses brandy and craps plum pudding. Ridiculous man!

Just had a call from "Chris Wallis / Wallace" using this ruse.

I am a PA and have been hassled over the last week by a Mark Taylor from the Diplomat Business Office, telephone number 0208 4191393.

Only found this thread now as I keep telling him to go away and he keeps coming back!

5 Feb 2014  Received call; foreign accent "Diplomatic Information Office" Talked about great initiative launched by Vince Cable.  Politely told him I was not interested; before I'd finished; the phone had been impolitely slammed down on me.  I expected this type of call because the day before a scam caller claiming to be from the National Audit Office had rung asking for the name of our MD. (Me.)  I'd refused to give it him so he'd looked us up on legitimate information sources then rang back in triumph to tell me he'd got my name.

. . . just had the ridiculous John Roberts on the line asking for our CEO.  He could only talk to him about a secret government initiative.  Where did you get our CEO's name from? I asked.  "From the list" he replied; "where did you get the list"; "from the Ministers".  "What ministers?".  Oh yes - it is all a secret.  Of course.  Silly of me to ask.  WHAT A WASTE OF MY TIME!  But quite comic!  Everyone - don't waste your time with this man.  Get rid straight away.

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 had exactly the same call, a "David Hooper" ringing to speak to our MD (Named) and asking to be called back on
0208 4191393. When asked from where he was calling he said the diplomatic office, asked which one, he said London....

I just had a call from Charles King from the Diplomatic Office who was very well spoken but dropped his accent when he said goodbye - bless.  Now I've found out more about this outfit I am looking forward to another call!

Hi guys, there is something we can do to fight back at these b*******!

There is this blog at:
Www.parliamentaryyearbook2.weebly.com/about.html

If everyone comments on it, writes their experiences and plasters the different URLs on it all over the internet, then when people search for the fake companies (after being called) the scam websites will come up in google and the scammers will be busted.

Here are some other URLs and names to post around the place:

The parliamentary year book.
The Parliamentary Book
The Parliamentary information office
Www.parliamentarybook.weebly.com

The Parliamentary Review
Www.parliamentaryreview.weebly.com

The parliamentary portfolio
Www.parliamentaryportfolio.weebly.com

Middlesex Rugby
Www.middlesexrugby.weebly.com

The national audit office
European Parliamentary Yearbook

I was contacted by a company called Associated Business Ltd in early 2015. The number came up as unknown but I am sure it's the same company as being mentioned here. The call was from a Grace Kennedy. On a quick Google check, I found they were linked to Blake Media but unfortunately I did not see anything negative. They were offering publication in something called the European Chamber of Commerce Business-to-Business Contacts Guide. I'm not sure if they have honed their marketing pitch, but it did seem legitimate and as it matched our marketing goals I went ahead (having haggled them down to £750 for a simple advert). Here we are, over a year later, and still no advert. We have managed to get back £230 in two installments, but are still out £420. I call very regularly, having found that a Judy was the MD there, always being told that Judy (who I have now discovered is Judith Briers) is in a meeting, will call back straight away etc. I think she has returned a call twice in all these attempts. I feel stupid for having been drawn in, but grateful that my business hasn't lost too much money to these con-artists!

I have worked for Blake media. I can confirm the two directors as Judith Biers and David Blake. The whole operation is a scam but because of the nature of how the operate they are able to continue to trade, as all business is conducted via telephone. They would never promise what they say on the phone in an email because then there is proof.

I even have the whole pitch with all objections photocopied. I left as soon as I realised it was a scam.

These scam artists are still doing business, now under the website exclusivecommunications.org and the registered business Exclusive Communications Limited.
Same spin, offering publication in something called the European Chamber of Commerce Business-to-Business Contacts Guide for an advertising fee.
They were previously trading under the name Associated Business Media. The same company directors (Judith Ann Briers and David Peter Blake) appear to be responsible for the whole fiasco.

these guys are surprisingly convincing.   the people calling were claiming to be from Exclusive Communications .org selling advertising space