(1)-------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 06 Nov 2002 11:24:17 -0500
From: Joan Bueter (Barry Univ.) <jbueter_at_mail.barry.edu>
Subject: Response to the TARGET vendor
First check this out !!
http://www.bbb.org/library/ba-inv.asp
http://www.fraud.org/scamsagainstbusinesses/tips/invoices.htm
I have been in contact with several libraries that tell me that
they are being bombarded by new companies. We believe that they are
changing their company names. This tells me that that sharing
information on List Servs and reporting them to authorities has
affected their business.
This supports my belief that these companies are in some way connected.
Target is a new name to me. If anyone else has been contacted by a
company whose name isn't on our list please let us know.
Alert all of your staff to this scam and tell them not to authorize
anyone to send anything when called on the phone even if they mention
a name of another employee or staff member. These calls should be
directed to one person to handle them.
If they persist, make your complaints in form letter format so that you
don't have to make up a new one each time. You can just change the names
and incidental information since the main part of the complaint never
changes.
Send your complaints to your state's Attorneys General office - the
Consumer Affairs Division, the Better Business Bureau and the U.S.
Postal
Inspector for your state.
Let's put them out of business. If we make enough complaints perhaps
our states will investigate this and put a stop to it.
This is the list that I have compiled so far. Some I have dealt with
personally, some are from other libraries and some are from the
SpamCop List
http://news.spamcop.net/pipermail/spamcop-list/2002-September/017322.html
Some from Washington University in St Louis, Purchasing Services –
Buyer Alert
http://purchasing.wustl.edu/purchasing/purchasing.nsf/dd5cab6801f1723585
256474005327c8/eee0bafae13bed798625697500712163?OpenDocument
If anyone has other names please let us know so that we can add them to
our lists.
I have found more information on some of these companies so that you can
contact them directly. I haven’t had time to finish the list but thought
that I would post what I had so far.
I will post again when I get time to do the rest of the research.
Joan
11/06/2002
Joan's List of Vendors:
Ameri-Globe Publishing, Miami, Fl
American Access -Los Angeles, CA
American Data
Business Communications
DataLink Directory -----I just found this and this may be part of our
problem.
The mothership:
http://dmoz.org/Business/Resources/Directories/North_America/United_States/
Datatech Communications - Ferndale WA
http://www.datatechcommunications.net/rates.htm
Datatech Communications -Albuquerque NM
(publishing the business to business directory)
DataTel Publications - Swanton, VT
E Com Business Directory ---- Philadelphia, PA
Ecom 411 - Champlain, NY
Esource Data Solutions - Champlain, NY
Hanson Publications
Their contact information: http://www.hansonpublications.com/ tel
888-590-7685
fax 888-313-9545 17 Old Turnpike Road P.O. Box 255 Beacon Falls, CT
06403
If you get calls feel free to contact them here are their e-mail
addresses marketing_at_hansonpublications.com
customerservice_at_hansonpublications.com
IBD (International Business Directory)
here’s the contact info for them.
http://www.b2b-bestof.com/contactus.html
Headquarters:
Acanthe 39 avenue du 8e Régiment de Hussards
Quartier Plessier 68130 ALTKIRCH FR
Telephone: ++33389088175
Fax: ++33389400345
E-mail: a.schnebelen_at_b2b-bestof.com
IPS
IT Data Direct
IT&T - Switzerland
Infobiz USA - Plattsburgh, NY
Info Chase - Champlain, NY
Info Com
(I was told that they bought out World Data Publishers)---- Florence,
KY41042
Info Com Direct (publishing the “Wilson and Goldberg – Goldbook”)
Infocom USA - Pilot Mountain, NC
Infotek
Informatica - NYC
Informatika - Champlain NY
International Business Index (IBI) -Atlanta GA and Denver CO
Mayrand (publishing American Business Guide) ---- Champlain, NY
MDSC Publishing (publishing the American Corporate Directory) - Cote St
Luc, Canada.
MNC Publications- Champlain, NY, 12919
NBIE
National Business Info
Nationwide Data Publishers - Lantana, FL
National Info-tech Center- Plattsburgh, NY (publishing the Western
Pacific Regional Directory Listing a CD)
New Limit - NEW TODAY
Newline Publishing - Port Huron, MI 48060
Pin Point Publishing- Canada
Quality Submit, Charlestown, MA, 02129
Statewide CD Publications- Grafton, WI
Target Publications - Ansonia, CT
Teleglobe Direct - Rouse Point, NY
United Media
UTP Digital Directories
World Data Publishing (ers)
jb 11/06/2002
(2)----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 08:14:22 -0500
From: Karl Bridges (Univ. of VT) <kbridges_at_zoo.uvm.edu>
Subject: RE: Business Directory Scam #2
These kind of things seem to happen on a regular basis. I wonder if it
would help to have some standard form letter drawn up by your university
attorneys that you could send these people e.g ---.
Dear Sir:
In regards to your recent request for payment for item X. It
does not appear that we have an appropriate invoice for this item.
Being unable to discern that we have any obligation we have no intention
of paying for this item. We consider Item X to be a gift to our library
and will deal with it as such.
If you would like to pursue legal action to collect this alleged
debt you are certainly free to do so. Please contact our university
counsel,Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe, at xxx-xxx-xxxx to discuss this
matter.
Please be advised that all university staff have been advised to have no
further communication with your firm or any of its representatives and
any written communications will be forwarded to our university counsel
for appropriate response.
I also wonder if there is some kind of central web page that keeps track
of these scams? If not, it would seem a good public service for someone
to start one.
[See previous email - Ed.]
(3)---------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 08:42:26 -0500
From: Peter Picerno (Nova Univ.) <ppicerno_at_nova.edu>
Subject: RE: Business Directory Scam #2
If you received merchandise which you did not order (and can prove that
you did not order), see Section 3009, Title 39 of the US Code. You are
under no obligation to pay for the materials. If your library has legal
counsel or service available to it, I would suggest that a lawyer write
a letter on the library's behalf informing the vendor (or vendors) in
question of the situation quoting relevant passages from the US Code.
In that way, the vendor will have to prove that the library ordered the
material, and in most cases they cannot furnish that proof. At the same
time you ought to lodge a written complaint with the local and state
Better Business Bureau as well as the state DA's office.
P. Picerno
Received on Sun Nov 24 2002 - 16:07:10 EST