Welcome to Purchasing Services "Buyer Alert" Page. This location will post information about questionable marketing actions by suppliers as reported by departments.

You may receive calls about:
Renewal of orders that have never been placed by your department
Inquiries to validate your copier or printer model number
Invoices for goods never shipped
Unbelievable discounts or special deals

To protect your department:
Never give your P-Card number over the phone or in email unless you've initiated the contact.
Do not give any information about your office equipment to unfamiliar suppliers.
If someone calls you about the "renewal of a previous order", ask them for the original purchase order #.
Do not authorize any shipment of supplies from a caller soliciting business over the phone.
Do not ask the company to send you an invoice just to get them off the phone.
Beware of any suspicious activity from callers using selling ploys which seem too good to be true.
Be aware of phone numbers which are displayed on caller ids as "blocked" numbers.

Please advise Purchasing Services immediately should you encounter any such selling tactics by a supplier.


UPDATE:
here are the latest entries:

Hardy Creations
You may get contacted by this firm indicating that they have been trying unsuccessfully to contact you via email concerning a purchase you made. They may claim that you had purchased an image editing system (or some servcie) from them and they had an electronically signed contract. In addition, they may indicate that you need to make final payment for services. Do not respond to these inquiries.


Princeton Who's Who
You may receive a fax or email inviting you to be listed in an edition of Princeton Who's Who of Executives, Professionals, & Entrepreneurs, or some similar edition. Do not respond!

This is a scam which first captures your contact information and then you are pressured to purchase an "upgraded" listing for a minimal charge of $800. They may seek a credit card number claiming they cannot list you in this directory because they don't have your credit card information on file. This entity is not associated with Princeton University..





Systems Warehouse
Departments have reported receiving calls from someone identifying themselves as being from the "systems
warehouse" and asking for the department's fax machine model or fax serial number. When the caller is pressed for information about his location and the reason for the call he terminates the call.

Travel Deals - DO NOT respond to these offers.



Avtech Direct
They send emails offering outrageously low prices on computers. DO NOT BUY from this firm! There are many reports of folks being taken advantage of from this company. Check this out: http://www.badbusinessbureau.com/reports/ripoff90565.htm

The Company for Publications and Information Anstalt
The Company for Publications and Information Anstalt is a phantom organization that harvests public trademark records for the names and addresses of trademark owners and sends them official looking invoices in English and in French "kindly" requesting remittance of a $1950.00 registration fee to Liechtenstein. Throw these invoices away!



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Toner

These firms may contact a department asking to update its shipping and copier model number information, then ships and bills you for toner.
Advise your staff not to give any information to a caller from a company they do not know.
Your usual supplier has all of the account information needed.

Often, these firms will use the name of an executive in their quest to get a machine model number and to have an order shipped.
Ask the caller for his/her name and phone number in order to call back. This request will often result in a hang-up or a revised story from the caller.
DO NOT sign and return any order forms faxed to your department by an unfamiliar company.

Favorite quotations:
"We understand that you have "x" brand copier (or printer, FAX). If you order now, you can you avoid a price increase."
"The University Chancellor referred me to you."
"The price increase has just been announced but if you order now, you can avoid it."

Companies to avoid:
Acme Company
Advanced Imaging Systems
Angeles Distribution Company
Atlas Business Supplies
Benchmark Supply
CCM Supply
Central Distribution, Inc.
Certified Supply Center, Inc.
Commercial Office Systems, Inc. of Tarzana, CA.
CopyCom
Corporate Advantage, Northridge, CA
Corporate Supply, Chicago
Distribution Service Center
Distribution Warehouse Center
District Distribution Corporation
General Mercantile, CA
Global Micro Experts
GT Toner Supplies
IDCServco, Culver City, CA
Imagetek Distribution (aka IDC Servco)
Intercoast Supply Center
International Supply Center
International Supply Service
Interstate Distribution, Culver City, CA
(also known as IDCServco)
Laser Imaging
Lasertech
Micro Experts
Microtech Solutions, Montana
National Supply Center
National Systems Imaging, Los Angeles, CA
Premium Marketing Services, Los Angeles, CA
Premium Distributors Center, LA, CA
Reliable Shipping
Regional Distribution Center
Regional Supply Center, Inc.
Resource Data Services, Alsip, IL
Supplies Distribution Network (SDN)
Supply Information Center
Supply Services, Atlanta, GA.
Supply Support Network
Upstate Supply, Inc.  

If you become aware of company using questionable business practices that is not listed above, please let us know and we'll include them.

Advertisement Firms

Advertisement firms may contact you to renew or start a subscription for a listing in their directory.
This contact may be either a phone call or a solicitation which looks similar to an invoice. You may also receive an actual invoice for the listing.

The directory listing that is offered may be printed or may be an on-line web directory. The directory most certainly will exist, however, it is important for each department to carefully evaluate the value received for any such listing.

Please advise all staff to carefully review any documents from these firms.

Advanced American Marketing, N Myrtle Beach, SC
Ameri-Globe Publishing, Miami, Fl
American Access
American Data
Bright Pages, LLC (BPLLC), New York NY
Business Communications
ClearView Corporate Communications, Chi IL
Commutel
Corporate Info Systems
Data Source Solutions, Wilmington, DE
DataLink Directory
Datatech Communications
DataTel
First Publications, Albertson, NY
Global Data, Wilmington, DE
Global Source Center, Miami, FL
Hanson Publications
IT&T, Switzerland
Infochase, Champlain, NY
InfoCom, Florence, Ky, 41042
Infomatika Publications
Infotek
I-Pages America
MDSC Publishing, Canada.
National Business Info
National On-Line Listings, Chicago IL
National Subscription Services
NDS Data Source
New Limit Publishing, NY, NY
Newline Publishing, Port Huron, MI 48060
Pin Point Publishing, Canada
Progressive Business Publications, Mavern, PA
Quality Submit, Charlestown, MA, 02129
Simple.Net
So-U-No Directories
United Media
Universal Media; Montreal, Canada
US Data, Plattsburgh, NY
UTP Digital Directories
Web Data Publishing, Boston MA
Web Data Publications, Boston MA
Web Media Publishing, Newark DE
World Data Publishing
Yellow Assistance, Chicago IL
Yellow Pages (BBLLC), new York, NY
Yellow Pages, Inc.; Anaheim, CA
Yellow-Page.Net


Phony Yellow Pages Billing



Be on the lookout for phony bills which appear to be for Southwestern Bell Yellow Page advertisements.

The Better Business Bureau warns that these invoices are actually solicitations for listings in alternative business directories that differ
from the well-known yellow pages. The solicitation from an alternative business directory may look like a legitimate invoice. It may
feature the name "yellow pages" or include the familiar "walking fingers" logo and falsely state that the publisher is affiliated with the
local telephone company or another bona fide yellow pages publisher.

Because the name "yellow pages" and the "walking fingers" logo are not protected by any federal trademark registration, they can be
used by anyone. A careful review of the "invoice" may find the words "This is a solicitation".


Other interesting web sites:
National Fraud Information Center
Scams Against Businesses
Consumer Protection
Avoid Credit Card Fraud
Telemarketing Scams