Larimer Sheriff Warns Local Businesses Of Office Supply Scam

A California-based business could be trying to take your company’s money. The company is called Imaging Supply Center, INC. and they send out notices threatening to take legal action against businesses for failing to pay for printer toner back in 2010. One local business paid invoices totaling over $1,100 before discovering the error.

From the Larimer Sheriff:

ISC has had several complaints from around the country for sending unordered toner supplies to businesses and then billing them at prices three times the normal retail price for the toner. It is believed that ISC calls the business, asks for the business address and the name of the employee they are speaking with and then sends the toner claiming that employee ordered it.

What a bunch of crooked scoundrels!

The Larimer Sheriff had some tips for avoiding scams like this:

1. Know your rights. 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.

2. Assign designated buyers and document your purchases.

3. Check your documentation before paying bills.

4. Train your staff. Train everyone in how to respond to telemarketers.

For more information refer to http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus24-avoiding-office-supply-scams .

[Larimer Sheriff]

Picture by liewcf, Flickr.