Our crime and security expert has info on how to spot this scam, how to avoid it, and what to do if youre among the thousands of businesses that have fallen for it. The state bbb, where the scam operation claims to be based in several cases, when businesses file a complaint with bbb against. We have written this article simply to raise awareness of the scam, and assure readers that they have done the right thing to ignore their threatening phone calls. The only criteria for a website to be listed in the scam directory is for that website to be used for the sole purpose of online fraud. The unsuspecting employee who answers the phone confirms the contact information based on the callers false implication that this is just a routine followup to. Many business directory scam artists are headquartered in canada, but use post office boxes or mail drops to make it look like they are in the united states. You work at a small business, nonprofit, church or local government agency, and you get a call.
Scam by online business pages moneysavingexpert forum. I withdrew the book from authorhouse and amazon distribution after complaining to the better business bureau in the publishers home state, but the matter has not been resolved. Click here to open up a live chat or click below to book a free session. Business owners should also report the incident by calling the federal trade commissions identity theft hotline, toll free. The yellow pages or business directory scam is pretty simple and similar to many other scams that are out there taking advantage of unsuspecting victims. The federal trade commission has filed suit to halt the illegal operations of several telemarketing boiler rooms in montreal, canada. Dont fall for business directory scams by paul davis last updated. I was looking for a light read that i could escape to when i needed a break from another book that i was reading which was much heavier and somewhat depressing.
Lisa schaefer, budget justified the waste fraud and abuse of government workers. Throwing the book at business directory scams the smoothtalking voice on the other end of the line claims to need some information to confirm your existing phone book listing. Read throwing the book at business directory scams and when yellow pages invoices are bogus to get inside info on how these scams work. The business directory scam strikes again ftc consumer. The offer may appear to be from a local or australian business directory but often only an international contact phone number is given. Beware of yellow page phone scams against business owners. While this is not a new scam, it is by far one of the most persistent. Most businesses sign up with multiple business directories, and a lot of businesses will forget who they ha. Pages ad scam, other types of phonebook and business directory listing scams. According to the ftc, the scam didnt always stop with the invoice.
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. This scam targets businesses and organizations of all types, attempting to fool them into paying for a listing or ad space in a nonexistent. Well feature a different book each week and share exclusive deals you wont find anywhere else. While this is not a new scam, it is by far one of the most persistent that continues to resurface and plague small business owners. The ftc has a new brochure, small business scams, outlining the modus operandi of b2b con artists. May 28, 2014 one of the most common scams aimed at businesses, the business directory scam, is on the rise yet again.
Consumers want to see how a business took care of business. These websites have been researched by our volunteers. Some phone book companies are resorting to sneaky, and in some cases, dishonest. Montreal scam artists garo manoug and vatche manoug, doing business under names including national business information exchange, inc. Scammers use deceptive sales tactics and threats of collections actions to bilk money from small businesses and charities for fake yellow pages and other directory advertising. False billing scams request you or your business to pay fake invoices for directory listings, advertising, domain name renewals or office supplies that you did not order. Business directory renewal scam my local services forum. What can your business or church or nonprofit do to help put the brakes on operations like this. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. Post copies by your phone and fax machine and share the links with employees, interns, and volunteers. You can search millions of local businesses on the go.
The business directory scam strikes again ftc consumer information. Warning issued to businesses about bogus directory scams. Fraudulent yellow page listing scam beware its back. When people disputed the invoices, the companies pointed to recordings of. You may be the target of a yellow pages or online directory scam. No company is too big they all can be used to pull off scams.
Please note we cannot provide telephone advice or assistance if you have been affected by this uk business directory scam. And in fact, a lot of the single line listings in the yellow parts are free also. Learn more about these and other scams at the canadian antifraud centre. The small business scams video is part of a series published by the competition bureau, which profiles some of the most common types of scams featured in. The operation is aimed at cracking down on the growing business directory scams. One particular scheme that is growing at a rapid rate involves the nationally renown business directory, yellow book, formerly known as yellow pages. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still. This list is made available for use by lenderscdcs in evaluating the eligibility of a small business that operates under an agreement. Someone wants you to confirm your contact information for a directory. Train your staff to spot this scam, including people who answer phones infrequently. New authors beware of scam agents and publishing sharks. Scammers call companies claiming to represent yellow pages or another business directory, real or fabricated.
And, be sure to report business directory and other scams by filing a complaint with the ftc. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from the rest. Take a minute to share this information in your community fraudsters often target churches and other nonprofits that depend on volunteers. Beware of directory listing scams targeting small businesses. Samita sarkar wrote an excellent article about how to spot publishing scams for the huffington post. Court throws the book at yellow page business directory. Business scams information for businesses may 2017. Business directory renewal scam in the ongoing murky world of cybercrime, the next thing you need to watch out for are bogus directory renewals. Any reasonable judge that sees you made an effort to cancel will throw out their claim. The ftc is alleging that three telemarketing agencies in canada, which did business under names like your yellow pages and onlineyellowpagestoday, used that very m. A short post on legitimate business directories vs.
This article explains the basics of how publishing scams work and. An ftc business alert called throwing the book at business directory scams advises these precautions. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still continues to. Chances are youve been hit by a business directory scam. Its so easy for these so called publishing companies to sound good to people that arent strong in the book business. The writer takes pains to summarize his advice in rules to followsuch as, dont do business on your doorstep. I search amazon for your book and could not find it with your name. A huge industry has arisen to prey on writers who are unsure of the path. I have researched countless articles and stories going back years regarding the ftcs investigations and shut down of these yellow page scam operations. While a business of any size is at risk of falling victim to this scheme, it most frequently targets small businesses, nonprofits, churches, credit unions, and local government agencies. Yellow pages might be scamming your business out of hard.
Cyber attackers pose an increasing and serious threat to businesses. M any selfpublishers start their book projects with unrealistic expectations and misunderstandings about how publishing works. A bill for an ad turns out to be a scam times union. The directory can be a hard copy or an online listing. Business directory scams normally involve you receiving a form in the post or in an email appearing to offer a free listing. He should also throw one in for the ftc and the postal inspection service, too. A bill for an ad turns out to be a scam chris churchill. Other types of scams include debit and credit card fraud, mortgage fraud, counterfeit currency, investment and securities fraud, and more. The book of scams has been added to your cart add to cart.
This makes the basic principles behind each type of scam more recognisable and it shows how scams have evolved and reemerged over time. Businesses of all sizes should be on alert for fake invoices for supposed listings in the yellow pages or other business directories, which are. And as with almost any widelyshared ambition, there are also folks out there looking to make a quick buck by exploiting those dreams whether they involve securing a book deal or going the indie publishing route. The accc and the institute of public accountants hosted a small business scams and cybercrime forum in may 2015. I did have other choices, such as purchasing this book at the school bookstore but finally i decided to purchase this book with for the convenience and for the guaranteed buy back. Consumers love to do business with someone that can admit mistakes and state how they made improvements. Encourage professional associations or local business groups to issue a warning to members. Author scams and publishing companies to avoid becoming a published author is a fantasy shared by almost all writers. In addition to the directory listing scam, the publication gives the inside story on other common ripoffs like the supply swindle, the url hustle, the charity con, and the check cheat. I have only read one other book by evanovich and had enjoyed it. They may also ask you to check your details if you wish to continue being included in a hard copy or online business directory. Most impressive client testimony ripoff report has ever seen. Before paying, check them out for free at, and read the bbbs report on them. And access what you have saved from any device any time.
Find out more about the latest scams on the rcmp website. Best of the web book marketing tips for the week of december 10, 2012. Danger lurks for those unwary souls who part only too readily with their hardearned cash and this book will help you be alert to the risks. We are small business service providers and we are sure that we will always keep in mind all the points suggested by you so that we can reach our goal. The ftc charged that the three telemarketing operations targeted businesses and other organizations with schemes to mislead them into paying hundreds of dollars each for unwanted business directory listings. The scam directory is a repository of websites created by criminals. Complaints, scams, lawsuits and frauds reported for. The scam directory a directory of websites used in. The meaning of our lives is to justify where our bosses spent their budget. Ftc sues to halt yellow pages business directory scams. Court throws the book at yellow page business directory scam. Business directory scams skunkworks creative group. When i received the book some pages were wavvy and did seem like it had some water damage. The aim of the forum was to help small business operators and stakeholders understand the scam and cybercrime risks small businesses face and how they can protect themselves.