Another Scam is Making its Way to Wisconsin Dealers

This scam is a variation of the old "bill 'em for what they didn't get" scam with the scammers capitalizing on the tremendous compliance requirements placed on dealers.

In the scam, dealers receive an invoice for an OSHA training DVD. The invoice is for an amount typically in the neighborhood of $150.00 and the company name looks credible. The scam invoice reported to your WATDA was from Safety First, R & K Wholesale and Distribution in Madisonville, Kentucky.

Like any good scam it looks believable, with a purchase order number, sometimes an employee name, phone numbers and even an email address; however, when you call the number there is no live person to answer the phone.

You are under no obligation to pay an invoice for goods not ordered (or received). Oftentimes these scammers get quite creative in their collection procedures, sometimes trying to collect years after the initial invoice was sent. To protect your dealership from inadvertently paying scam invoices follow these suggestions:

1. Use purchase orders
2. Verify received goods against purchase orders
3. Verify invoices against goods received
4. Require suppliers to provide the purchase order number on the invoice
5. When a purchase order number is not provided on the invoice withhold payment until you can verify that the products or services were indeed ordered and received

Thanks to Howard Hill for the head's up. --Sue Miller

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