Merton council has tweeted a warning to local businesses that a ‘conman, posing as a Merton Council worker’, is calling round trying to sell adverts.

An estate agents and veterinary practice were the first to report the scam to the council yesterday.

Burrows Communications, a marketing company based in Stafford Road, Wallington, was selling advertising for the Merton Business Guide and Directory on behalf of Merton Council last week but sales manager, Eileen Whetnall, 50, believes these hoax calls are unrelated as her staff finished selling on February 25.

According to the council, the conman asked for credit card details up-front which Mrs Whetnall says would never be taken by her sales staff.

She said: “We do not ask for payment up front at all. None of the sales force gets involved with the payments. It is not how we operate.”

Mrs Whetnall is concerned that the hoax caller is using the name of one of her sales team and intimidating people with an aggressive and pushy sales manner.

She said: “My salesman has been working on the Merton Business Guide and Directory since January 4 and I’ve not had a single complaint. We don’t allow anybody to be aggressive in their manner.”

Burrows Communications has completed its advertising sales for the directory.

Any calls received now should be reported to the Trading Standards team on 0208 545 4018.