The Latest Scams Circulating the Consumer World. Be warned. Be informed.
July 2006
Paper Pirates and Toner Phoners
A friend recently told me about her phone conversation with a paper pirate. As the Executive Director of a non-profit organization, she received a call from a man who tried to persuade her that she had an existing account with his company and it was time to reorder their office products. She figured out that the man was a con-artist and called his bluff before he could steal her money. After the call, she advised me to warn others about paper pirates and toner phoners who are targeting businesses, churches, and fraternal and charitable organizations.
Scenario: You receive a phone call from someone who alleges to be from your regular office supply store offering a limited-time sale on copier paper, toner or other supplies.
Scam: The supplies never arrive, or the quality is inferior and overpriced, and the company has no relation to your regular supplier.
By convincing you that the goods or services and prices offered are the same as before, the caller hopes you won't bring up prices, quantities, and brands. Even if you do, the seller may try to brush you off by saying, "We've supplied you in the past, but it's been a while," or "The price is the same as last time."
If you insist on a price quote, the seller may give a price that sounds reasonable for one carton but is actually for a single unit, such as "$19.95 in a carton of 10," meaning the carton price is 10 times $19.95, or $199.50.
They can misrepresent the quality, quantity, type, price, or brand name. For example, the toner for your Xerox copier may not be Xerox brand toner. Some scam artists try to duplicate brand name packaging; others sell half a carton of merchandise at the full-carton price.
In another twist, the caller uses high pressure tactics to rush your purchase decision and dodge questions about price, quantity and brand names. The seller may falsely claim that prices are going up soon, someone was forced out of business, a warehouse is overstocked, or a limited inventory of government surplus is available. Or that a computer glitch delayed notification of a price increase, but, as a courtesy, an order has been reserved for you at the "regular" or "old" price.
Play it Safe
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Ask for the person's name, the company name, and a phone number. Then contact your regular supplier to verify the story.
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Designate specific people in your company to handle office supply purchases. They should know who your regular suppliers are and control the ordering process.
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Before paying invoices, the person who is responsible for your bills should confirm that the supplies were ordered, who they came from, that they have been delivered, and that they were the correct brands.
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Don't be pressured into paying. Fraudulent companies often use threats of collection or legal action to get payment.
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