http://www.ky3.com/news/local/78188587.html HOW TO STOP A TONER PIRATE click on link below to see video http://www.ky3.com/news/local/78188587.html BRANSON, Mo. — A scam is working its way through the Ozarks
again. It targets big businesses.Skaggs Hospital dubbed them “toner
pirates” after being targeted by the scammers. They try to make big
money by selling overpriced toner and other office supplies to unknowing
employees.Skaggs Hospital senior purchasing coordinator Jeanette
Ashford regularly sends e-mail messages to employees warning them about
“toner pirates.”“They’ll say our cartridge has more ink, is a brand
name, or prints more copies. But, in the long run, you don’t save
money,” said Ashford.That’s because the “deal” they offer is often three
or four times the price that the hospital normally pays.“One that we
may pay $150 for could cost $500,” said Ashford.
The scammers
hope the employee verbally approves the purchase without the approval of
the purchasing department. Ashford says they’ll often just outright lie
to get approval.“I’ve even had them call and say, ‘I just talked to
your CFO and he said it’s okay for you to do this,'” she said.The few
times the scammers did get approval, they sent a bill with no phone
number or return address, only a post office box to send the
payment.It’s particularly troublesome for Ashford who worries other
companies might not have a strong enough purchasing procedure in place
to avoid this type of scam. She suggests companies assign one person to
approve all purchases.“If you have one person that takes care of it,
you’re not as likely to have it happen because that person would know
whom you purchase from.”