Online/YP Directory Listing Invoice Scam

ComplaintsScamsDirect Business Pages Publication Inc.

Complaint

0
Henry Kimmel
Country: United States
Received an invoice today from a company entitled "Direct Business Pages Publication Inc." stating that the hospital I work for owes them a past due amount of $495.95 for online and directory listing.

While the "invoice" does display the traditional Yellow Pages logo in the upper-left corner under the business name, no other area of the invoice states that it is in fact for an online/directory listing in the Yellow Pages.

After some research I have found that the business address listed for this company (132 East 43rd St #4, New York, NY 10017) turns out to be the location of a UPS Store.  Two listed telephone numbers: 800-668-5675 & FAX 718-576-1616.  Tried both.  The 800 number, a Fax machine picks up and when I tried to fax a test page to the 718 number, no surprise, the confirmation page listed the number as busy/no response.

I also found no listing whatsoever for a "Direct Business Pages Publication Inc." in the ACTUAL New York Yellow Pages.  Additionally, the envelope return address is different from the "invoice" address.  The person the "invoice" is addressed to has not worked here for 5 years, and yet, it is claimed that she ordered the "online directory listing services" for 2009-2011.

Wanted to inform all who visit this site to throw this "invoice" away.  It is totally bogus.

Comments

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  • 0
    Us too
    Our hospital also received the exact same bill.
  • 0
    tj
    This is a common scam.  They generally don't do anything other than threaten, since they are pretty well known to law enforcement, even though they keep changing names.

    Contact FTC.  In addition, file fraud complaints with your state Attorney General, the NJ AG, the Florida AG, and at www.ic3.gov

    You may find a "debt collector", ACA Recovery, following up on such fraudulent "debts".  If so, file fraud complaints against them as well.

    https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/DqVvXDYsJwDn1gjMs3ZoRA
  • 0
    jp
    Happened here in small town Texas too.
  • 0
    cshaun99
    New Hampshire as well.
  • 0
    JOHN G.
    Got the same today, Google showed me this info. Thanks for posting will file in trash.
  • 0
    CT
    Got one forwarded to me today, too. Gladly went to the FTC site to file a complaint.
  • 0
    DC
    Got one in DC too! Thanks will file a complaint
  • 0
    UT
    Thanks for the information.  Called the phone number on the invoice and was told by a gentleman that "x" from my company had ordered the advertising and the conversation was recorded for proof.  I asked to listen to it.  He then said he would have his secretary locate the file and call me back.  Red flags from the start.

    Found this site as I was researching the company.  Boy, I wonder how many companies go ahead and pay without digging.  There are so many yellow page options.
  • 0
    lori
    Same one rec'd in Ky. Thanks for posting this complaint.
  • 0
    Jamie
    Also recieved for in NM, but the man I spoke to actually gave me a real person in our co that supposedly authorized it, and then gave me a "cancellation code" I needed to send with the bill to cancel for 2012. he then faxed me a W-9 with their Tax ID number.  Not really sure, but will not pay until I know for sure...
  • 0
    Cindy
    Also received in Minnesota. I contacted the 800 number and was given the explanation that this was a mailing mistake and should have been sent as a promotion, but that the wrong documents were sent to the wrong clients.  Sure they were. I won't pay, but it costs me time to contact our 35 business locations about this scam.
  • 0
    McD
    Classic scam message and almost classic for English as a second language.  Misspelled words ('recieved' for 'received'); 'check' used in one area of the 'invoice' and 'cheque' used in another; mixture of caps and lower case throughout.  And who gives a discount for credit card payment?  These types of letters should be opened by tearing from top to bottom through the middle of the envelope.
  • 0
    Perry
    Recieved one here in Georgia as well, only this time it was to an ambulance company...
  • 0
    tj
    If you are receiving invoices for any unordered "product" through the U.S. Mail, file a mail fraud complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspector.  The Postal Inspector has been dealing with fraudulent invoicing scams since before the Internet came along.

    In addition, file fraud complaints with FTC.  You can find the status of several FTC lawsuits against similar scams, her:
    http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/status/status.pdf


    "After some research I have found that the business address listed for this company (132 East 43rd St #4, New York, NY 10017) turns out to be the location of a UPS Store. "

    This type of scam typically hides behind a mail drop.  Addresses in NYC are often used to appear more legitimate.  They are often actually located in Canada, particularly in the Montreal area, which is home to numerous fraudulent telemarketing operations.


    "Classic scam message and almost classic for English as a second language.  Misspelled words ('recieved' for 'received'); 'check' used in one area of the 'invoice' and 'cheque' used in another; mixture of caps and lower case throughout. "

    A number of these scams are Canadian based, but at least one of those had a connection to a Pakistan-based call center.
  • 0
    tj
    "he then faxed me a W-9 with their Tax ID number."

    Which proves exactly nothing, but it sure looks "official".  Anyone can pull a W-9 form off the IRS site and put some fake information on it.  Even if it were accurate, it doesn't even logically support their claim that you "ordered" something.  All BS aimed at making their fraudulent scheme look legitimate.  

    Scams often atempt to steal the credibility of others, since they have none of their own.
  • 0
    tj
    "was given the explanation that this was a mailing mistake and should have been sent as a promotion, but that the wrong documents were sent to the wrong clients.  "

    They know that mailing you an "invoice" for something you didn't order is mail fraud.  Postal regulations specify that "solicitations" be clearly marked as such, or they become "unmailable matter" which it is illegal to send through the U.S. Mail.
  • 0
    tj
    Use of false claims to have "recorded authorizations" is common with this type of scam.  The recording may not exist, but is used as some implied threat that they can "prove" you "agreed".  Doctored, edited, or truncated recordings are also commonly used, often from calls "to verify your information".

    A normal business making an offer for services would provide a contract to sign and return.  These scams never do that.

    No recordings can be trusted.
  • 0
    AK
    Same in Alaska.
  • 0
    sarabean10
    got it in GA, too.
  • 0
    RL- 8 Feb 2011
    Got it in SC, this is the second year in a row.
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