Warning Signs of Business to Business Fraud

by SSA T.J. Harrington, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Philadelphia, PA

COLD CALLS requesting verification of type and serial number of office equipment.
CALLS REQUESTING VERIFICATION of the name of the office manager or receptionist. Such calls are usually a ploy
to obtain a contact name within the company so that the fraudulent operator can send the unordered product to an employee.
UNSOLICITED SALES CALLS with claims of lower than market prices on office equipment and supplies.

TIPS FOR BUSINESSES
VERIFY to whom you are speaking on the telephone. Ask for the person's name and address. Never accept a Post Office
Box as an address.
CHECK YOUR OWN SUPPLIER LIST to determine if the caller is listed as a source for office supplies and if the address
matches the one given by the telemarketer.
Check out the company's REPUTATION with the Better Business Bureau in the city where the solicitation originates before
you place an order.

As of December 2, 2002