The Yellow Pages invoice scam targets small businesses
Updated: 5:17 PM EDT, April 27, 2024
FRAUD REMINDER. GUYS THIS IS NOT A NEW SCAM BUT IT IS A SCAM THAT JUST WILL NOT GO AWAY. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A FAKE INVOICE SENT TO A LANCASTER COUNTY DOCTOR’S OFFICE. NOTE THIS IS FROM THE YELLOW PAGES INDEX, NOT THE YELLOW PAGES. BILL IS CLOSE TO $500 FOR ONE YEAR AD AND $800 FOR TWO YEARS SO SEEMS LIKE A REAL DEAL. MANY TIMES THESE FAKE INVOICES ARRIVE AFTER SCAMMERS CALL COMPANIES CLAIMING TO REPRESENT THE YELLOW PAGES AND UPDATE THE BUSINESS LISTING. NOW, IF YOU OWN A SMALL BUSINESS, HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO AVOID THIS SCAM. FIRST ASK FOR A COPY OF A PREVIOUS EDITION OF THE DIRECTORY. ASK FOR DISTRIBUTION METHOD. THE LENGTH OF THE DIRECTORIES AND HOW OFTEN IS PUBLISHED AND ASK WHERE THE DIRECTORIES ARE DISTRIBUTED AND WILL REACH ALL THE LOCAL PHONE CUSTOMERS AND FINALLY CONSIDER THE ACTUAL NEED FOR A YELLOW PAGES LISTING IN THIS DAY AND AGE , IN THIS INTERNET ERA INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS CAN TO BE QUICKLY AVAILABLE VIA ONLINE SEARCH.
The Yellow Pages invoice scam targets small businesses
Updated: 5:17 PM EDT, April 27, 2024
Scammers target businesses and organizations to try to get them to pay for an ad or ad space in a non-existent directory or the Yellow Pages. Directories are a mainstay in the scammer’s attempt to get money out of the business. This isn’t a new scam, but it’s a scam that just won’t go away. A Lancaster County doctor’s office sent News 8 On Your Side an example of a fake invoice. This is from the Yellow Directory Pages – not the Yellow Pages. The bill is $498.89 for a one-year signup and $789.71 for two years, making it seem like a bargain. These fake invoices often arrive after scammers call businesses. They claim to be the Yellow Pages and say they want to update the business listing. If you own a small business, here are some tips to avoid this scam: Ask for a copy of a previous edition of a directory. Ask for the distribution method, the life expectancy of the directory, and how often it is published. Ask where the directories are distributed and if they go to all local telephone customers. Consider the need for a yellow pages listing. In this Internet age, information about your business can be quickly accessed through an online search.
Scammers target businesses and organizations to try to get them to pay for an ad or ad space in a non-existent directory or the Yellow Pages.
Directories are a mainstay in the scammer’s attempt to get money out of the business.
This isn’t a new scam, but it’s one that just won’t go away.
A Lancaster County doctor’s office sent News 8 On Your Side an example of a fake invoice. This is from the Yellow Pages of the Directory – not the Yellow Pages.
The bill is $498.89 for a one-year signup and $789.71 for two years, making it seem like a bargain.
These fake invoices often arrive after scammers call businesses. They claim to represent the Yellow Pages and say they want to update the business listing.
If you own a small business, here are some tips to avoid this scam:
- Request a copy of a previous edition of the directory.
- Ask about the distribution method, the life expectancy of the directory and how often it is published.
- Ask where the directories are distributed and if they go to all local telephone customers.
- Consider the need for a yellow pages listing. In this Internet age, information about your business can be quickly accessed through an online search.
