Us yellow pages is clearly attempting to scam people into signing up for their expensive listing program that appears to be free. Similar to a fax directory scam, this one typically involves a few phone calls. Currently, people in the united states shun the idea of eating insects as part of their diets, favoring instead less nutritious and environmentally destructive food options, such as beef and pork. The yellow pages or business directory scam is pretty simple and similar to many other scams that are out there taking advantage of unsuspecting victims. We have to date dealt with 12 of these yellow page scams.
They may ask you to provide contact information for a free listing or say the call is simply to confirm your information for an existing order. Jul 22, 20 they are a huge company that takes care of their employees and have been around for 80 years starting with yellowbook. This page was opened so the thousands of people around the country who were deceived by yellow book can share their horror. Sorting facts from fiction about yellow pages scams. Similar to a fax directory scam, this one typically involves a.
Scammers call companies claiming to represent yellow pages or another business directory, real or fabricated. Top scams top scams information about common scams. The business directory scam strikes again ftc consumer. United states received letter from aca recovery in todays mail, called them and they indicated i had an overdue statement with go yellow pages. District court for the southern district of florida, miami division, the defendants in this case donovan b.
I thought i too was merely updating my line listing and when they sent the invoice it stated it was for an enhanced listing and the letter for the access to the website etc. Learn how to protect yourself from and respond to scams and frauds. How giving your contact info to yellow page usa turns. May 28, 2014 back in june, the ftc filed suit to halt the operations of three telemarketing boiler rooms in montreal, canada. Businesses of all sizes should be on alert for fake invoices for supposed listings in the yellow pages or other business directories, which are. This is probably the most important step as alert employees are the best tool for stopping the headache before it starts. I received a phone call from someone implying they represented the yellow pages in the california phone book.
Consumers who have been contacted by scammers could have had their personal information breached. They are a huge company that takes care of their employees and have been around for 80 years starting with yellowbook. They said that they were calling to updating the companys information for the yellow pages. Later i started getting bills from yellow page directory services their return address is. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still.
As a native new yorker, ill take you around the city so you know how to avoid new yorks worst tourist traps. In other words, if you ever receive a phone call from someone asking to verify your phone book or online yellow pages listing, hang up immediately. The federal trade commission has halted two canadabased schemes that defrauded small businesses and nonprofits in the united states. I know for a fact we have not agreed to advertise with them as i am the one who organizes much of the advertising we do. How to protect yourself against identity theft and respond if it happens. When the scammer gets someone from the business on the phone, he or. Less than two hours had pasted from the phone call to the repair completed.
Expository essays differ from persuasive essays because you arent stating an opinion. While a business of any size is at risk of falling victim to this scheme, it most frequently targets small businesses, nonprofits, churches, credit unions, and local government agencies. Small businesses all over the nation are receiving solicitations that appear to be invoices from the local yellow page directory. In 2012, i started receiving phone calls from a company identifying itself as yellow pagesusa. Since then the page has accumulated 81 consumer complaints. The defendants in these cases allegedly sent deceptive invoices to small businesses throughout the united states for unordered business directory listings. Yellow page directory services complaint 14368 scambook. I originally agreed to a free listing, but now they insist that i signed on for a very expensive program. Beware of yellow page phone scams against business owners.
When you visit that site it says it is actually owned and operated by a company in russia. If you receive an invoice from this company, do not pay it. Dont fall for business directory scams by paul davis last updated. Over charge and get nothing in return and over the past 10 years phone book returns have always diminished while the sales. I contacted yellowbook 4 today it took four times and trying to get one female representative to update the description and the right information about my. While this is the most recent yellow pages ad scam, other types of phonebook and business directory listing scams have surfaced in recent years. Phone book advertising has always been complete crap for everyone here. We opened a business in southern california in january of 2010 and received mail from us yellow pages. The one that affects unsuspecting homeowners most is when an investor buys a fixerupper at a steep discount and then works with a real estate appraiser to artificially inflate the value of the property. At the top right of the form it said, in bold letters, this is not a bill. The cars supposedly came from the estate of a wealthy christian man according to his will. The ftc alleged that the telemarketers bilked thousands of small and mediumsized u. Bbb files indicate that yellow pages has a pattern of complaints. Our crime and security expert has info on how to spot this scam, how to avoid it, and what to do if youre among the thousands of businesses that have fallen for it.
This scam targets businesses and organizations of all types, attempting to fool them into paying for a listing or ad space in a nonexistent directory or yellow pages. No company is too big they all can be used to pull off scams. When i called yellow pages united, they said they could only cancel my account if i paid. Dec 26, 2012 sorting facts from fiction about yellow pages scams december 26, 2012 august 7, 2014 yellow pages united staff every business owner is bombarded with sales messages from other businesses that come in the mail, online or on the phone, but few people have time to research each one to determine if theres real value being offered or if the offer. According to a complaint filed by the ftc and the state of florida in the u. Fraudulent yellow page listing scam beware its back. First, it clarifies that most, if not all, communications between a business and its customers will be considered to be representations made to promote a product or a business interest, and thus subject to the deceptive marketing practicesmisleading advertising provisions. I just received a fax with a bogus fingers to the walking symbol and the heading of yellow with free submission to. May 28, 2014 one of the most common scams aimed at businesses, the business directory scam, is on the rise yet again. Find information on common scams and frauds that can happen to you. Sorting facts from fiction about yellow pages scams december 26, 2012 august 7, 2014 yellow pages united staff every business owner is bombarded with sales messages from other businesses that come in the mail, online or on the phone, but few people have time to research each one to determine if theres real value being offered or if the offer. You may file a complaint against a yellow pages directory firm with the attorney generals office online at. It explains common scams that target small businesses and nonprofit organizations, describes scammers tactics, and provides steps people can take to protect their company from scams. Find out how to report irs scams, and learn how to identify and protect yourself from tax scams.
The invoices are usually sent by outofstate companies that publish a directory that contains a limited number of businesses and has limited availability to. If the recipients disputed the invoices, the defendants used a variety of collection tactics, such as playing audio recordings. A fraudster called and asked to confirm the name, address and phone number of the business in order to complete the yellow page ad the business had allegedly purchased. Chief postal inspector, united states postal service, washington, d. Scambook s investigation team reached out to this company a total of 2 times, scambook investigators last contacted them on apr 04, 20. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still continues to. Ftc cracks down on yellow book scam the san diego union. Us yellow national yellow pages deceitful, unethical. How giving your contact info to yellow page usa turns into. The yellow pages scam keeps on taking while the socalled yellow pages scam comes and goes, a new group of canadabased telemarketers is now attacking u.
Since i do not advertise with companies as so many of them are scams i told ms. The ftc is alleging that three telemarketing agencies in canada, which did business under names like your yellow pages and onlineyellowpagestoday, used that very m. Most usually the web site is new or only registered in the last six months. From 1997 to 2002, over 4,000 people paid an advance fee in order to receive new cars at a fraction of their value. The cover page of the fax says factoring in bold letters and its from sarah richmond. Educate employees on how the scam works and how to recognize dangerous calls. May 10, 2012 like any other mortgage scam, there are many ways to illegally flip a house. Hibu yellow book yell hibu is a rip off scam missouri. According to the ftc, the scam didnt always stop with the invoice. Jul 17, 2014 the ftc is alleging that three telemarketing agencies in canada, which did business under names like your yellow pages and onlineyellowpagestoday, used that very m. Ftc and florida halt internet yellow pages scammers. The original source to find and connect with local plumbers, handymen, mechanics, attorneys, dentists, and more.
Sorting facts from fiction about yellow pages scams yellow. This page was opened so the thousands of people around the country who were deceived by yellow book can share their horror stories and perhaps if we all are united enough. Ftc halts online yellow pages scammers federal trade. Learn about protecting your personal information from. Additionally, you may want to file a complaint against the firm with the federal trade commission at.
Watch out for these 5 common mortgage scams us news. I too confused it with the yellow book yellow pages and that is of course what they are counting on and hoping for. Yellow page is an extreme case, yet it holds a few lessons for all advertisers. Like any other mortgage scam, there are many ways to illegally flip a house. Aug 26, 2019 hibu publisher of yellowbook rauchmilliken international, inc. She indicated that a statement was sent out in december. Visit our parent organization, consumer reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.
One particular scheme that is growing at a rapid rate involves the nationally renown business directory, yellow book, formerly known as yellow pages. Ernie was an outstanding young man, he worked quickly had a very nice professional attitude. Go yellow pages online complaint letter from collection. Received letter from aca recovery in todays mail, called them and they indicated i had an overdue statement with go yellow pages. This article is part of the ftcs efforts to help small business owners avoid scams.
I think all yellow page scams are the same people with the same list and they call you from the new company when they cannt scare you into paying. This is probably the most important step as alert employees are the best tool for stopping the headache before it. If you already advertise in your local telephone companys yellow pages, this yellow pages online directory will be in addition to any existing yellow pages advertising. They have no contract with me, nor did i approve any yellow page add with these people. Usyellow pages us yellow pages sending me bills for. Later, youll get a big bill, and the scammers may use details or even a recording of the earlier call to pressure you to pay. Court throws the book at yellow page business directory. Somebody calls your organization saying they simply. The scam gets worse aka the invoice though i myself never received a phone call from yellow pages united, i did receive their invoice. I call action garage door company in carson city nv to have a broken spring repaired. The yellow pages list companies for no fee in the phone book. The ftc recommended four ways you can protect your business from the yellow pages scam. Beware of these frauds and scams when buying or foreclosing on a home.
Dec 22, 2014 in 2012, i started receiving phone calls from a company identifying itself as yellow pagesusa. Heres how the scams worked, according to bloomberg businessweek. If you look around the web, you will see their name come up with complaints again and again. Businesses that fell victim to a your yellow book scam involving bills for directory listings that they never placed will get refunds as part of a. Hibu, inc complaints better business bureau profile. A buyer is lured into securing a loan for this inflated amount. Apr 02, 20 i just received a fax with a bogus fingers to the walking symbol and the heading of yellow with free submission to. How to protect yourself against identity theft and respond if it. You also may direct questions about yellow pages directory publishers to the yellow pages publishers association yppa, a private trade association representing yellow pages publishers throughout the united. When people disputed the invoices, the companies pointed to recordings of. Over charge and get nothing in return and over the past 10 years phone book returns have always diminished while the sales reps lie thru their teeth about the actual numbers. Whitepages is the largest and most trusted online phone book and directory. Dallas yellow pages phone books in texas tx whitepages. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still continues.
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