*NEWS*TONER PIRACY SCAM IN MISSOURI

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Date: Wednesday January 23, 2008 01:44:00 pm
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    Business “Toner Piracy” Scam
    jackson missouri,Business owners beware. There’s a new spin on an old office supply scam. This nationwide ripoff is now being reported in the metro. The Federal Trade Commission says “toner pirates” are bilking businesses out of millions of dollars. As one business review writes, if your business has a phone, you’re a potential target. No one is safe.According to Troy Lambert, the owner of Capital Imaging Systems in Flowood, “They call them and once they know what type of machine they have and make and model they just ship toner directly to them.”

    Calls are coming in right and left to the Flowood copier and printer service business. At least 25 calls in the past 2 weeks alone.  “The toner pirates kill us,”according to Lambert.  How does the scam work?  The most common scenario is when a person calls a business to determine what type of copier it uses…then tries to sell toner.”  Lambert says, “It’s normally a receptionist or someone at a front desk they sign for the package.” A weak link toner pirates hope for. They wait then strike again. Posing as the copier service dealer selling your toner. The bait. A close out sale, great prices. But not really. “They are probably 40-60 percent above the market retail price.” Exorbitant and second rate. Toner that may not be good for your copier. And if the business uses the crummy stuff, the machine is damaged, their service contract could be voided. The best way to guard against this scam, employee education. Better yet have those who want your business to drop in.  Even if you are lucky enough to track down where the supplies come from, your business can be charged huge “re-stocking” fees to return them.The Federal Trade Commission says Office supply fraud costs its victims, large and small businesses, as well as schools, government agencies, and nonprofit institutions an estimated $200 million per year.  If you receive supplies or bills for services you didn’t order, you don’t have to pay, and you don’t have to return the unordered merchandise.  You may treat unordered merchandise as a gift.  Check out http://www.ftc.gov/boss for more information.

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