The police are investigating an “advertising scam” involving a UK marketing company in which Maltese tourism operators were defrauded of about €35,000.

The case involves 21 private entities that last year supposedly booked advertising space in the summer edition of the highly-popular tourist brochure Malta Sightseeing. The publication is produced by Supreme Travel Limited of Żejtun and is distributed free in hotels and tourist resorts.

The businesses were approached by a representative of the Scottish-based marketing company Vogrie International, who offered advertising slots and said he was acting for Supreme Travel. It transpired late last month that no bookings were actually made, though the advertisers had already effected payments between €600 and €3,000.

A Vogrie International spokesman blamed its Maltese sales agent, accusing him of failing to follow the instructions clearly issued before the marketing firm stopped trading.

More in Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com.