Yellow business book scam

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. This is probably the most important step as alert employees are the best tool for stopping the headache before it starts. International association of better business bureaus, inc. We opened a business in southern california in january of 2010 and received mail from us yellow pages.

Call your local yellow pages publisher to learn if it is associated with the company soliciting your business. I sent the company a certified letter that this listing was not authorized and i will not pay the bill and will file a complaint with the california dept. Phony area directory or yellow pages listings what are they after. Yellow pages invoice scam florida attorney general. Business owners who advertise in the yellow pages are being targeted by a fake directory scam making the rounds in b.

No company is too big they all can be used to pull off scams. Another one to add to the list is canadian business phone book andor great. 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. 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. Please select a location below to find local business information in your area. Ftc halts online yellow pages scammers federal trade. Small businesses beware yellow pages directory scam. Usyellow pages us yellow pages sending me bills for. Scam involving yellow pages targets small businesses youtube. While this is the most recent yellow pages ad scam, other types of phonebook and business directory listing scams have surfaced in recent years.

If more than one yellow pages publisher distributes directories in your area, call the publishers whose books you are considering for your ad. We are trusted by over 35 million users every month. 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. We looked into it and were advised by the police they are being investigated. The basic scam for getting invoices for services you havent requested has been around for a very long time. A vanity scam preys on one very gullible aspect of humanstheir pride. Information from knowledge networksris 2004 yellow pages industry usage study. Yellow pages united has scammed many people out of their hardearned money.

Court throws the book at yellow page business directory. Yellow pages scam targets small businesses restaurant. Kindly note that trudon pty ltd is brand owner and publisher of the yellow pages, phone book, internet yellow pages, yellow pages mobile incl app and the talking yellow pages and is the largest supplier of directional information to south african users look ups. Yellow page directory services complaint 14368 scambook. 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. After referencing the yellow pages, 83% made contact with advertisers by phone, email or in person. A phone call in which someone wishes to verify your phone book listing. The ftc recommended four ways you can protect your business from the yellow pages scam. Ftc sues to halt yellow pages business directory scams. At the top right of the form it said, in bold letters, this is not a bill. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still continues to.

This scam is listed as one of the top con jobs targeting small businesses. Yellow page united sent a form by mail to my office like they do to most people who have complained here and in other webpages, to correct a personal and business information with some fine print at the bottom of the form which apparently was some kind of agreement for service which does specify the amount anywhere. Responded scam business masquerading as telkom directory. A few weeks later i had to sign for a package at the post office. Officials in one county have had to issue an alert concerning a fake business directory after several businesses reported being contacted. Small businesses all over the nation are receiving solicitations that appear to be invoices from the local yellow page directory. We pride ourselves on the ability to respond to the needs of our clients. We have never done any business at all with this company nor will we ever. The solicitation from an alternative business directory may have the appearance of an invoice. This page was opened so the thousands of people around the country who were deceived by yellow book can share their horror stories and. 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. When it comes to products and services for your business, ask for recommendations from other business owners in your community.

Before doing business with a new company, search the companys name online with the term scam or complaint. When our clients products or services are needed, we get them in front of the consumer. Do not assume you are dealing with your local yellow pages publisher simply. Yellow pages has partnered with thryv to share a pay what you can version of their business software. Yellow business ads, yellow blue media and blue yellow book are 3 names used by one online advertising company with the main one being blue yellow book aka nationwide marketing bureau inc. Beware of yellow page phone scams against business owners. I received a phone call from someone implying they represented the yellow pages in the california phone book. San francisco bans distribution of unsolicited phone books. Beware the fake phone book listing scam that targets small businesses. The yellow pages list companies for no fee in the phone book. Us yellow pages is clearly attempting to scam people into signing up for their expensive listing program that appears to be free.

The yellow pages scam is a deceptive practice used to bilk payments from small businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations by deceiving them into ordering and paying for unwanted listings in online business. The business directory scam strikes again ftc consumer information. When people disputed the invoices, the companies pointed to recordings of. 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.

Received a bill from the yellow business book for a listing in the yellow business book which i did not authorize, the bill. Fraudulent yellow page listing scam beware its back. Whitepages offers the top rated free business search lookup tool online, established in 1997. The yellow page network is one of the fastestgrowing sites on the internet, streaming over 19 million business listings throughout north america every day.

Ask yourself, is this a solicitation or an invoice. Dont fall for business directory scams by paul davis last updated. I got caught in a scam from some company claiming to be national business advertising out of aventura, fl. This yellow page 365 has been trying to get money from my business over 3 years. They have no contract with me, nor did i approve any yellow page add with these people. San diegos news source 10news, kgtv, delivers the latest breaking news, weather. The scam gets worse aka the invoice though i myself never received a phone call from yellow pages united, i did receive their invoice. A high pressured sales person called my receptionist in august, telling her that a year ago i had signed up for a free listing in the blue yellow book. The state bbb, where the scam operation claims to be based in several cases, when businesses file a complaint with bbb against the fraudulent yellow pages company, the bbb contacts these operations regarding the complaint, they state that they have audio taped receipts for the online advertising services.

One particular scheme that is growing at a rapid rate involves the nationally renown business directory, yellow book, formerly known as yellow pages. There has recently been a surge in reports from small businesses that they have received a fax claiming to be from yellow page australia and open business directory ltd that, on first glance, appears to be seeking confirmation of their. The solicitation from an alternative business directory may have the. The representative at yellow business ads denied this fact when i brought it to his attention. Businesses of all sizes should be on alert for fake invoices for supposed listings in the yellow pages or other business directories, which are. According to the ftc, the scam didnt always stop with the invoice. Us yellow national yellow pages deceitful, unethical. Educate employees on how the scam works and how to recognize dangerous calls. Scammers call companies claiming to represent yellow pages or another business directory, real or fabricated. Features include local amarillo news, texas news, weather, sports, business. That invoice bearing the familiar walking fingers logo and the name yellow pages could be a camouflaged invitation to lose money.

Companies targeted in fake directory scam ctv news. It was a digital card from canadian business phone book. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still. According to a warning issued by the ftc, you need to be on the lookout for these fake yellow page invoices and whatever you do, dont fall for this scam. They call small businesses asking them to update or verify the information for their online yellow pages listing.

Scamwatch is warning small businesses to be alert as the fake yellow pages business directory scam has resurfaced in australia. Similar to a fax directory scam, this one typically involves a few phone calls. We do not do business with the yellow business book. Therefore, they provide little, if any, benefit to businesses who pay to advertise in them. Model scout and manager brenda wong was shocked when she recently received a. Locally owned businesses or contractors what is it. It is obviously a way for the yellow business book company to make money by trying to slip through fraudulent invoices, hoping that many businesses will pay the bills without investigation. Update your business details including hours, payment options and more. May 28, 2014 one of the most common scams aimed at businesses, the business directory scam, is on the rise yet again.

In a vanity scam, a business is contacted about winning an award and asked to pay the partial or full amount of the cost of receiving the award. The business directory scam strikes again ftc consumer. Yellow page is an extreme case, yet it holds a few lessons for all advertisers. Yellow business book better business bureau profile.

The defendants in these cases allegedly sent deceptive invoices to small businesses throughout the united states for unordered business directory. The invoices are usually sent by outofstate companies that publish a directory that contains a limited number of businesses and has limited availability to. Please note courts have ruled that any business can use the walking fingers logo and the yellow pages term. Later i started getting bills from yellow page directory services their return address is. Among those making a purchase, 91% purchase at a place seen in the yellow pages. With contact information for over 25 million businesses, including store hours, menus, and locations, were not a traditional yellow pages phone book or directory. Alternative business directories generally are not available or distributed to the public. Type of a scam yellow pagesdirectories someone called me to confirm my business address and phone number. It may then come as a surprise to receive an invoice for hundreds or thousands of dollars for.