TONER PIRACY SCAM IN MISSOURI

[Anonymous]

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.

[Author]

January 23, 2008 at 1:45 PM