[Libs-Or] Fwd: phone scam story

Mon Jan 24 13:36:23 PST 2011

I had contacted the Special Districts Association of Oregon and suggested
they put an article in their newsletter.  This is what they posted today,
http://www.sdao.com/ref/newsletters/11janfeb.pdf:

--------------

Office Supply Scams on the Rise
*

An article from the Federal Trade Commission's Website
*

Has your business ever been targeted by an office supply scam? Could it?
Offi ce supply fraud costs its victims – large and small businesses, as well
as schools, government agencies, and nonprofit institutions – an estimated
$200 million per year. These scams generally involve the deceptive sale of
products that businesses purchase on a regular basis – like printer paper,
copy toner, light bulbs or cleaning materials.

Some fraudulent telemarketers may lie to get your company to pay for items
it never ordered, or to pay more than it agreed to – often five to 10 times
what the product or service is worth. Some callers pretend to be your
company’s regular supplier or offer a "special deal" that they claim is
"good for a limited time only."

The Federal Trade Commission urges employers to train their employees. Visit
http://www.ftc.gov/boss for more information on how to spot, stop and avoid
office supply scams.

If you think you’ve been the victim of an office scam contact the FTC at
877-FTC-IHELP.

  On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 12:09 PM, Diedre Conkling <diedre08 at gmail.com>wrote:

> I don't mind you using what I wrote.  I did give my own staff some further
> guidance.  This is everything I think I said to them.  You will need to do
> some editing.  One branch did receive the call before I was able to contact
> them about the problem so I said a bit more and you may want to use some of
> it.
>
> --------------------
>
>
>> Today I received a call at the office which I suspect was from one of
>> those companies that sends you stuff and then tells you that you ordered it
>> but you know that you would never have placed such an order.  So, I am
>> sending this message out to you so you have a bit of a warning.
>>
>> I answered the phone and the guy wanted to speak to me about our
>> photocopier.
>>
>> He says:  "I am calling about your copier and need to update our
>> information.  You just need to go look on the front of your copier and tell
>> me the make and serial number."
>>
>> I paused for a couple of seconds (because I am a slow thinker) and was
>> trying to figure out what this could possibly be about and then realized
>> that he had not identified a company.
>>
>> I said:  "What is your company?"
>>
>> He said:  "The main headquarters for your copier located in Virginia."
>>
>> I lease our copier and know the name of the bank carrying the lease (and
>> where I pay the bills) and the company that arranged the lease and does the
>> maintenance.  Neither is in Virginia.  And, on top of that, I know the names
>> and have spoken with the people associated with our copier and he was not
>> one of them.
>>
>> I said:  Well, since you are not giving me a name of a company I assume
>> you are not the company from which we lease our copier so I am now going to
>> end this call."
>>
>> I had a staff member at the Siletz Library once answer a phone call that
>> may have been similar to this one and the company sent the library 10 toner
>> cartridges and an outrageous bill.  It was not fun getting them sent back to
>> the company.  It was for the printer you are still using and I have only
>> purchased about 4 toner cartridges for the machine.
>>
>> In other words, don't respond to this or any similar call.  *It is a
>> scam!  *If you ever are in doubt or have even the slightest inkling that
>> something just isn't quite right please refer them to me.and then let me
>> know about the call.
>>
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I am not writing this to embarrass Kim because the companies making these
> calls are sleezy and really can sound convincing.  However, Kim did receive
> a call yesterday and gave out the information they requested.
>
> Here is some further guidance on how to handle what may happen now.
>
> Your library may receive a second call to verify the order and the
> address.  Don't give them the address.  Tell them that you do not place
> orders and that all orders are place through the Lincoln County Library
> District office and they will have to call me for any verification of
> anything.
>
> If they send a package DO NOT except delivery if at all possible.  You
> don't get very many packages sent to you other than McNaughtons so you will
> probably know that this is not a package that you would normally get.  If
> possible get the name and address of the sender.  That may not be possible
> but you can try.
>
> If the toner gets delivered DO NOT use it.  It could invalidate the
> maintenance contract we have on the copier.  Just send it to me.
>
> If you get hassled about not paying bills or anything just tell them they
> need to speak with me.
>
> Hey, things happen.  We try to prevent them from happening but when they do
> happen we move on.  I am just so glad I was told that it happened.  It helps
> me give you guidance and develop a plan for action.
>
>
>
> ---------------
>
> On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 7:39 AM, Kim Rutter <krutter at sekls.org> wrote:
>
>>  Hi Diedre:
>>
>>
>>
>> I would like your permission to reprint your letter to Publib regarding
>> the copier phone scam you reported on December 15, 2010.  I edit our
>> system newsletter and I think your warning would be useful for many of our
>> tiny, rural libraries.  Would it be OK for me to include your letter, with
>> your name as author, in our Jan-Feb newsletter?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> kim
>>
>>
>>
>> *Kim Uden Rutter*
>>
>> Library Consultant
>>
>> Southeast Kansas Library System
>>
>> 218 E. Madison
>>
>> Iola, Kansas   66749
>>
>> (620)365-5136 - phone
>>
>> (620)365-5137 - fax
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
>
> *Diedre Conkling
> Lincoln County Library District
> P.O. Box 2027
> Newport, OR  97365
> Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
> **Work email:  **diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
> *  NEW**
> Home email:  **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>
>
>

-- 

*Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR  97365
Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
**Work email:  **diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
*  NEW**
Home email:  **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>

-- 

*Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR  97365
Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
**Work email:  **diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
*  NEW**
Home email:  **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>
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