From the OPP
On Jan. 24, the Ear Falls OPP was notified by a local business about receiving a fraudulent invoice for printer supplies from a company with a B.C. address.
Police conducted an online search into the company, which revealed it already had been flagged by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for a similar type activity.
The company mails legitimate-looking invoices for printer supplies to random businesses, and it does not appear that they target any specific businesses.
The BBB offers the following tips for phony invoice schemes:
•educate your staff, particularly those responsible for paying invoices, about the variety of scams involving phony invoices and solicitations;
•channel all invoices through one department;
•carefully read all invoices and solicitations that are sent to your company and verify with the person who gave written or verbal authorization;
•check your records to confirm claims of previous business dealing with a company or seller (do not be alarmed by language indicating that an unfamiliar unpaid invoice will be forwarded to a collection agency); and
•in a dispute, if the invoicing company says it has a tape recording of an order, insist on hearing it.
If you become aware of the scheme only after payment has been made on the fraudulent invoice, immediately contact your bank, your local police department, and the BBB.
