A common fraud tactic is the fake yellow pages invoice or other unauthorized advertising. Somebody calls your organization saying they simply need to confirm your contact information for a business directory. Businesses that fell victim to a your yellow book scam involving bills. Youve been redirected to the people search on yellow pages, since and are part of the thryv, inc network of internet yellow pages directories.
While this is the most recent yellow pages ad scam, other types of phonebook and business directory listing scams have surfaced in recent years. Ive had two different versions of yellow pages collections. Ftc halts online yellow pages scammers federal trade. The yellow pages are any telephone directory of businesses, organised by category rather than. Educate employees on how the scam works and how to recognize dangerous calls. 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. The federal trade commission has halted two canadabased schemes that defrauded small businesses and nonprofits in the united states by billing them for unwanted listings in.
Ajs office has been targeted by scammers who claim his company owes them for an online yellow pages listing. Want to stop delivery of yellow pages, white pages, phone books. One of the most coveted designations in the book industry, the kirkus star marks books of exceptional merit. Court throws the book at yellow page business directory scam. Officials in one county have had to issue an alert concerning a fake business directory after several businesses reported being contacted. All across the web, on blogs, message boards and more, its not hard to find complaints about yellow pages companies. Yellow business book better business bureau profile. Yellow pages has partnered with thryv to share a pay what you can version of their business software. Locally owned businesses or contractors what is it.
Bbb files indicate that this business has a pattern of complaints concerning billing and collection issues. You can search millions of local businesses on the go. They have no contract with me, nor did i approve any yellow page add with these people. Differentiate between auditing for fraud in the government. Yellow pages logo is not ed so anyone can use it to trick you into. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still continues to. This company is a scam and is not real or the popular yp most companies do business withour yp repconfirmed this is not them and to not pay them any money. The ftc recommended four ways you can protect your business from the yellow pages scam. While this is not a new scam, it is by far one of the most persistent that continues to resurface and plague small business owners. I thought it would be funny if i asked them for the official press release about it. I have researched countless articles and stories going back years regarding the ftcs investigations and shut down of these yellow page scam operations. Gao provides factbased, nonpartisan information to congress.
If no order has been placed, it is safe to assume that the service was a scam. Since then the page has accumulated 81 consumer complaints. Information about yellow holding ltd was first submitted to scambook on nov 22, 20. Often called the congressional watchdog, gao investigates federal spending and performance. Yellow pages logo is not ed so anyone can use it to trick you into believing they are a reputable company. The yellow page companies sent nearly identical faxes to businesses in a number of countries.
In addition, youll find great book recommendations that may be of interest to you based on your search and purchase history, as well as the most wished for and most gifted books. Please select a location below to find local business information in your area. Beware the fake phone book listing scam that targets small businesses. Yellow pages phone scam targeting business owners by nick. Donnelley created the first official yellow pages directory. What you need to know about yellow pages companies. The official website of elton john, featuring tour dates, stories, interviews, pictures, exclusive merch and more. When presented with this deceptive scheme, the best thing you can do is to confer with yellow book and question a representative about an order for service. Phony area directory or yellow pages listings what are they after. Specifically, consumers are reporting that they are being sent invoices for services. Fraud scams targeting small businesses range from strange office supply orders to fake invoices. Always check the calling companys reputation out for free on the better business bureaus website.
Each book is a collector edition that is as magnificent to see as it is to read. View the 2011 yellow book view the 2018 yellow book. 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. 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. Business owners who advertise in the yellow pages are being targeted by a fake directory scam making the rounds in b.
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. The book of scams has been added to your cart add to cart. Sorting facts from fiction about yellow pages scams. The better business bureau of central oklahoma, where your yellow book is located, shared the complaints it received about the alleged scam with the ftc for enforcement. 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. Check with consumer protection officials or the yellow pages publishers in.
Every year subscribers would get a local, printed book from their phone company containing white pages and yellow pages. The yellow book is used by auditors of government entities, entities that. Businesses of all sizes should be on alert for fake invoices for supposed listings in the yellow pages or other business directories, which are. Review of yellow pages type business listings and directory sites. Ftc returns money to consumers in online yellow pages scam. Their websites look official but i have yet to hear about anyone saying this service boosted business it does not look like there is much to. Yellow pages might be scamming your business out of hard. Opt out of yellow pages with us and stop the delivery of printed directories you dont want to receive. Beware of yellow page phone scams against business owners.
Chicago, il yellow pages, get phone numbers, business information, videos, local products, brands and services, website links and bbb accredited businesses in many areas. Ftc cracks down on yellow book scam the san diego union. They even have a recording they say is proof of an employee agreeing to the. Conversely, publishers note that phone book directories are 100% recyclable and are made using soybased and nontoxic inks, glues and dyes. After listening too the hard sale from my local yellow book sales represenitive, i was stupid enough too sign up for one. Since then the page has accumulated 44 consumer complaints. The business directory scam strikes again ftc consumer. This makes the basic principles behind each type of scam more recognisable and it shows how scams have evolved and reemerged over time. The people search feature on is temporarily unavailable. Yellow pages business directory invoice scam still. The telemarketers who call you will promise things they can never. I too confused it with the yellow bookyellow pages and that is of course what they are counting on and hoping for.
Reports from inside jails contradict sheriff officials statements about. Yellow pages invoice scam florida attorney general. Official paperwork scam hits michigan small businesses. This type of fraud may be disguised as a solicitation for an update of an existing advertising product youve purchased, or as an offer for. Small businesses all over the nation are receiving solicitations that appear to.
The white pages contained alphabetically organized personal listings that included an individuals phone number and address. Scambook s investigation team reached out to this company a total of 2 times, scambook investigators last contacted them on apr 04, 20. The scam gets worse aka the invoice though i myself never received a phone call from yellow pages united, i did receive their invoice. Easton press sells the worlds greatest books, bound in genuine leather and accented with 22kt gold. Companies targeted in fake directory scam ctv news.
Responded scam business masquerading as telkom directory. This page was opened so the thousands of people around the country who were deceived by yellow book can share their horror. Being a koreanborn citizen, she doesnt speak english very well. Model scout and manager brenda wong was shocked when she recently received a. Court throws the book at yellow page business directory.
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. General yellow pages has not satisfactorily provided evidence that redacted new orleans agreed to purchase any ads or services ads from their company. 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. Danger lurks for those unwary souls who part only too readily with. They run the gamut from warnings about yellow pages bills for orders that were never placed, to. I have a whopper of a yellow pages scam story but cannot divulge it yet. The reach of the yellow page directory scam was truly international. According to the ftc, the scam didnt always stop with the invoice. The official website of the federal trade commission. Consumers who have been contacted by scammers could have had their personal information breached. This yellow page 365 has been trying to get money from my.
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