Toner Scams

A common method of office supply or toner scammer is to call an unsuspecting administrative person and say something like: Hello, this is your authorized toner supplier. I was just there, and I forgot the model number on your machine. Can you please check? Most people want to be helpful, so they usually share this information. Soon a package arrives and an invoice, usually for 10 times the actual value. In many busy companies the invoice is passed on to accounts payable, who may even pay the invoice without too much scrutiny. It is also common to send product with private carriers, so when the recipient signs, they also signs a contract, binding your company to the purchase. 

According to FTC: If you receive supplies or bills for services you didn't order, don't pay, and don't return the unordered merchandise. You may treat unordered merchandise as a gift. By law, it's illegal for a seller to send you bills or dunning notices for unordered merchandise, or ask you to return it - even if the seller offers to pay for shipping.

How to protect your company:

• Only have designated buyers.
  

• Document your orders with purchase orders.
  

• Don't receive anything without a purchase order.
  

• Train your employees: Have them say: You have to talk to our purchasing agent; we do not order anything without a purchase order.
  

A great place to learn more about office supply scams is FTC web site at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/supplies/

We at Pacific Lawrence Company also know the suggested retail price and common discount pricing for almost all toner products, so if you need to check pricing, you are more than welcome to call us.