10/23/2007
The Better Business Bureau warns businesses to watch for phoney invoices from companies requesting payment for a “listing” in a business directory.
One technique used in this scam is to call a business to check whether information in your “current” listing is correct. Once they have verified the information, the scammers will then insist that you “agreed” to pay for the listing in question. Others simply send an invoice in the hope it will be paid automatically. Perpetrators of this scam use high-pressure tactics to get a company to pay the invoice.
If you are being pressured to pay for something you aren’t sure you ordered, the warning bells should go off. If you didn’t order it, don’t pay it. Giving in to this kind of illicit activity only encourages it.
If you are a business owner or manager make your staff aware that any questionable invoices should be pulled for you to review, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Another type of phony invoice being sent to local businesses is from certain “charities” claiming that a company has made a pledge and now must pay the amount indicated on the invoice. This usually follows a phone call during which high pressure tactics are sometimes used.
Legitimate charities do not engage in this kind of practice. If you can’t remember making a pledge, don’t pay it. It is easy for a telemarketer to claim you made a pledge, but a telephone conversation does not constitute as a contract. Telemarketing fraud is easy to stop, just hang up.