Toner Phoner Awareness:
Protect Your Business
The caller sounded professional. Besides, she said she was from
Xerox. So when she asked for your printer information, you gave
it to her. You even ordered some toner.
Then you got the bill. And more phone calls demanding payment. The toner may or may not have arrived. But there's one
thing you got for sure: a headache.
They're called "toner phoners." Scammers who try to pass themselves off as
Xerox employees or affiliates, supposedly to sell you Xerox products. Every
year in the U.S., toner phoners rake in millions by fooling honest businesspeople just like you. You don't have to be among them.
How toner phoners usually work
A "customer service rep" will call you claiming to follow up on an issue with
your printing device. He or she will add that they are sending you toner cartridges at a special price and will ask you for the printer's serial number, device
model and contact information (name, address and phone number). Once
that bogus outfit gets this information, it will start sending you phony invoices
– often with very high charges. One customer received a bill for $1,377.76 for
two toner cartridges! Most often, these crooks do not even send the items;
instead, they'll just keep calling you to push for payment.
Here's how you can protect yourself:
- Know who you're dealing with.
Always purchase Xerox products from a
reputable reseller, or from Xerox directly. When you buy from an unfamiliar
or unknown source, you're taking a risk.
- Know how the good guys work.
If a telephone rep calls and asks for the
serial number of a device, he or she is probably a fake. Real Xerox employees already know the serial number. Therefore, think twice before you give
this information out. You might be talking to a disreputable dealer who is
"fishing" you for information.
- When in doubt, check it out.
Before making a purchase, get the company name, employee name, website and any other information you can
and do a little research. A sales rep may try to offer you a deal you can't
refuse. But remember the adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Ask the caller these two important questions:
Will there be any additional charges other than state and local taxes?
If the answer is yes, say no to the impostor.
What is your name and employee ID number?
By law, telephone sales people are also required to tell you what company is soliciting your business at the beginning of the conversation.
Finding out the answers to these two questions can reveal a lot about the
company that is calling you. They can even help you quickly determine
whether or not you are dealing with a legitimate company.
If you suspect that a scammer has targeted your company,
contact
iTech at (304) 485-2222.
To order genuine Xerox supplies, call iTech (304) 485-2222.
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