Beware of Fraudulent Telemarketers
 Have you been solicited for office supplies by telephone only then
to receive merchandise that was not from your original supplier? Have
you received office supplies at inflated prices or that did not meet your
expectations?
Don’t be embarrassed! You are not alone!
Fraudulent telemarketers are sometimes referred to as “Toner Phoners”
or “Paper Pirates.” Victims of telemarketing fraud include
local, state, and federal agencies, charitable organizations, family owned
businesses, churches, schools, and multi-million dollar corporations.
Everyone who answers a phone is a potential victim. Many of the fraudulent
operators misrepresent the quality, quantity, and price of office supplies
while posing as an end-user’s regular supplier. If you receive goods
that were not sent by your regular supplier, do not meet your expectations,
or are at an inflated price, you should contact:
Business Technology Corporation
12411 Wornall Road
Kansas City, Missouri 64145
816.303.4001
816.941.2829 (fax)
Then send a written complaint along with a copy of the invoice to:
| BTA Staff Attorney |
Regional Chief Inspector |
222 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2100
Chicago, Illinois 60606 |
United States Post Office
850 Cherry Avenue
San Bruno, California 94098 |
HOW CAN YOU AVOID BEING A VICTIM?
- Have specific individuals responsible for ordering supplies
- Train all employees who answer the phone
- Do not give equipment information such as serial numbers over the
phone
- Do business with a reputable, local supplier
- Issue written purchase orders with authorized signature and number
- Instruct supplier to put purchase order numbers on its invoice and
bill of landing
- Do not pay bills unless they match your documentation
- Refuse the merchandise if it does not conform to the bill of landing
- Do not pay for, or return, unordered merchandise
- Report incidents immediately to the proper authorities
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