AN organisation representing small businesses in the Thames Valley, including Bucks, is urging the Government to extend its protection for consumers to include small firms.

The call came as the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) launched its month-long campaign to alert the public to deceptive and fraudulent mass-marketed scams.

It is being coordinated through the member countries of ICPEN, the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network.

FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) regional chairman, Robin Lawrence, said: "The aim of scam month is to arm consumers with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognise and report scams - but what about small firms?

"Here in the Thames Valley region we are inundated by small firms who have been targeted by fraudsters. They feel that not enough is being done to stamp out these crimes and raise awareness among the business community. We are calling on the Government to extend its definition of consumer to include small firms and for the OFT to use all the powers at its disposal to protect small businesses."

A spokesman for the OFT said it had identified combating scams as a priority area for the next three years during which time business to business would be covered.

"This is not a flash in the pan," the spokesman said.

Last year Bucks Trading Standards received around 1,000 inquiries and complaints from people about unsolicited scams.

Community services portfolio holder, Buckinghamshire county councillor, Margaret Dewar, said: "The public need to be aware that unscrupulous companies and individuals intend to deliberately defraud.

She warned: "Treat with caution unsolicited emails, telephone calls and mail. The public need to check the credentials of companies before parting with money and should never give bank or credit card details unless they are 100 per cent sure of who they are dealing with."

The OFT has identified the top ten consumer scams and estimates UK consumers lose an estimated £1 billion a year to a variety of scams, many of which originate from abroad. The top ten list includes: l Premium draw, sweepstakes and foreign lottery mailings. These mostly appear to be notification of a prize in an overseas draw or lottery in return for administration or registration fees l Nigerian advance fee frauds, which offer via letter, email or fax, a share in an immense sum of money in return for using the bank account of the recipient to enable the transfer of the money out of the country Investment-related scams involving an unsolicited telephone call offering the chance to invest in shares, fine wine or other soon-to-be rare commodities.

More information from from Bucks Trading Standards on 01296 383212