Better Business Bureau: Yellow Pages billing scams make the rounds
Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota is warning businesses that Yellow Pages billing scams are once again making the rounds, and urges all companies to keep a close eye on the invoices they receive, as they may have been sent by scammers.
Scammers have used the Yellow Pages name and logo for years by sidestepping trademark rules.
In some cases, these fake billings are for $1,000 or more. If a business refuses to pay the bill, the scammers sometimes threaten them with collection or legal action. At this point, many business owners pay up just to stop the hounding. However, no one should be bullied into paying a bill they don’t owe.
To protect yourself:
- Hang up. Don’t confirm information from unknown callers. This just gives the scammers something to use against you.
- Remember, the Yellow Pages name and logo is not trademarked. Scammers are able to use the name and “walking fingers” icon to lend credibility to their scam. They are not affiliated with the well-known phone directory.
- Don’t trust Caller ID. Scammers have technology that lets them display any number or organization name on your screen.