Office Supply Scams on the Rise

Office Supply Fraud Has Many Victims;  FTC Offers Tips for Preventive Purchasing Controls

Thursday, JUNE 6, 12:45 – 1:00 PM ET

(Story note for producer:  Excellent consumer or business feature or sidebar about a growing problem for businesses, especially smaller businesses that may not have the formalized procedures of a big business.)

Washington, D.C. – Tyrone Sweatt had been working only a few days as a temporary employee when he took a salesman’s call about a toner order. 

“He called the first person that was there and that was me and he said very matter-of-factly that he was a regular supplier for us, and he would send the toner on through,” commented Sweatt. But when the toner arrived, it was not what was usually ordered.  When the company tried to return the purchase, the supplier refused to take it back.  “He didn’t seem like a telemarketer at all,” said Sweatt.  “He just seemed like someone who calls regularly that we were used to speaking to.”

Office supply fraud has many victims – from the businesses, government agencies and hospitals downtown to service organizations, rescue squads, or libraries down the street.  And its costs are mounting – up to $200 million a year by some estimates.  Any organization can fall victim to office supply scams if they don’t have adequate purchasing controls in place.

The Federal Trade Commission urges employers to train their employees.  If you think you’ve been the victim of an office scam, visit www.ftc.gov/boss or contact the FTC at 877-FTC-HELP. 

WHAT YOU’LL GET:

PRODUCED CIDEWO NEWS RELEASE with B-ROLL footage and sound bites
 

FOOTAGE of Tyrone Sweatt working at a desk, answering the phone, working at photocopy machine; telemarketer making pitch; package being delivered to company; samples of bills and dunning notices; people going to work, entering buildings; workers using office supplies; slates of FTC phone number and Web address; FTC building
 

SOUND BITES featuring Tyrone Sweatt; Reilly Dolan, FTC representative
 

LIVE INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES available with FTC regional directors appropriate to your location.
 

CONSUMER TIPS AND TALKING POINTS available at www.ftc.gov/boss

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SATELLITE TELSTAR 5
TRANSPONDER 16
AUDIO 6.2- 6.8
DOWNLINK 4020

THURSDAY, June 6,12:45 – 1:00 PM ET and FRIDAY, June 7, 1:15 – 1:30 pm
Technical Info DURING FEED ONLY, NBN, TOC, 212-684–8910, x 221

VIA PATHFIRE / DIGITAL MEDIA GATEWAY
(ABC NewsOne Stations)

On left-hand panel of DMG, double click on News Broadcast Network, Story # NBN 22226.

FREE FROM NEWS BROADCAST NETWORK, 212–684–8910

Hard Copy Information:  Dan Conboy, 800 – 920 – 6397

Editorial Contact:  Cathy MacFarlane 202-326-3657