Watch out for subscription/charges that you did not order. It appears that such scams are on the rise and may additionally apply to individuals, e.g. magazine subscription scam, magazine renewal scam, etc. It may occur anywhere, and not just in New Zealand. ----- A multibillion-dollar global company has been conned out of $200, 000, becoming the latest victim of an advertising scam sweeping the country. this company, which police refused to name until investigations are completed, paid for advertisements in about 10 different magazines it did not order. It is now crucial to a police case opposed to publishers thought to be behind an operation that has netted millions of dollars from small New Zealand businesses, including several in Manawatu. Detective Ash Johnstone, of Wellington's proceeds of crime department, said the alleged invoicing offences opposed to this company occurred between October 2008, and March this year. this company, with global annual revenue of more than $10 billion, was "creamed", showing how large companies were additionally at risk, he said. "There still seems to be a lot of people paying invoices willy nilly." A Wellington magazine this company paid for advertising with Local Bodies Directory is one of a list of publications police are investigating to establish if they exist, he said.