Wiltshire boss urges owners to join group (From Wiltshire Times)

Wiltshire boss urges owners to join group

1:17pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in Bradford

TOURISM chief David Andrews has invited more guesthouses and B&Bs to sign up to the organisation’s newsletter, to prevent fraudsters targeting accommodation across Wiltshire.

Mr Andrews, chief executive of VisitWiltshire, said the group’s fortnightly newsletter can help build a strong network of accommodation providers who can warn of suspect guests.

Around 300 hoteliers and guesthouse owners receive the updates but Mr Andrews said he’d be happy to add any of the remaining 500 in the county to the contact list, even if they are not members of VisitWiltshire.

Earlier this week, VisitWiltshire used itsemail link to warn accommodation providers after a guesthouse in Devizes was visited by a company claiming to be debt collection agency demanding payment for an advert the B&B had not taken out.

Mr Andrews said: “We do make a big effort to tell people as soon as we hear of a scam or potential scam.

“The network is really useful as there have been some occasions where quick action by a B&B owner to inform us has resulted in catching someone when they’ve gone to their next target.

“It is also very useful for informing members in situation like this, with Wendy Coleman, of scammers being caught.”

To sign up for the email link call 01722 or email davidandrews@visitwiltshire.co.ukhttp://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/10023773.___We_knew_it_was_all_just_rubbish___/