Another day, another scam

[Macro]

Had this phone call from a salesman telling me about this business directory and about how our company has been in it for the last 3 years. He wanted to check that we were listed in the correct category. Fair enough, I thought, you aren't trying to wheedle out names for the purchasing director/MD, you aren't asking for email addresses... so let's see where this goes.

It turned out that the category he quoted seemed the right match for our business. So I said thank you very much when he added that it'll be £499 + vat as it was last year and that the invoice will arrive in due course.

Hold on a sec, I said, we didn't pay last year, you don't appear on my "Approved Supplier List" so we couldn't have ever raised a payment for you. That's when he started fumbling. I typed "<the company name>" in Google and came up with natch. Not one site anywhere making any reference to it. I told him to find some other sucker.

I've heard of these scams before and have had one or two attempts in the past... but just thought I'd warn you guys about the scam.

[edited by: engine at 7:27 pm (utc) on April 22, 2004]
[edit reason] specifics removed [/edit]

[rogerd]

We see this a lot for copier supplies. "Hi, we're the copier guys... our records show your toner supply is getting low, shall we ship you a new batch?" The product is either recycled junk or doesn't arrive at all.

It's also similar to the common "Yellow Pages" invoice scam, which is most often conducted by mail. (An invoice that looks like it's for your local phonebook ad but is in fact for some bogus directory.)

I guess scams have to keep up with technology!

[martinibuster]

Let's not forget the letters from unknown domain registries telling you that your domain needs to be re-registered with them.

[ogletree]

I have not seen one of those domain letters in a while. I guess that fell out of favor.

[tedster]

The latest I've seen in domain registration is a note thanking you for transfering your domain name, but warning you that the transfer is not yet complete -- just click on the link provided to complete this necessary transaction.

The business directory thing is insane - I sometimes wonder if some of them actually think they are providing a valuable service.

[Romeo]

... that "business directory" trick is an old one. Decades ago, when there was no internet at all, they already tried to sell their snake-oil-directory entries in non-existent business-address-books and worthless business-fax-directories ...

Same scam as usual ... old habits never die ...
Thanks for the heads-up.

Regards,
R.

[pleeker]

I have not seen one of those domain letters in a while. I guess that fell out of favor.

I got three at home a couple weeks ago, and am now trying to help a client who mistakenly replied with payment to one of them.

Not so out of favor, sadly.

[D_Blackwell]

I have not seen one of those domain letters in a while. I guess that fell out of favor.

I have enough domains out there that I get at least one a month. Two last week for parked domains expiring in September. Of course, I must act by May - or else!

and am now trying to help a client who mistakenly replied with payment to one of them.

I warn clients that they will probably be getting these kinds of pitches when their domains come up. A reckless or feckless client can cause themselves a lot of problems.

[blaze]

I got a domain letter .. it was amazing, looked like it came from the canadian government.

[rogerd]

Our payables person just sent me a domain renewal scam "invoice" to be approved... I guess that's why we have an approval process. ;)

[paybacksa]

Moniker claims that is its strength... they will lock a domain so nobody can "steal" without interactive permission it even if the owner fills out and signs one of those scams. Also godaddy is offering a LOCK feature, but I am not sure how secure it is. It, too requires website interactive permission, not just signed agreement + authorization letter.