
The Oregon Department of Justice has received numerous complaints about a phone scam targeting Oregon businesses.
Learning how to spot and avoid phone scams like these can help protect your business.
The Oregon DOJ Released the Following Details on the Scam
Based on the complaints received to date, the scam telemarketers are calling from 1-800-247-4047.
The fake telemarketers pose as state employees calling from Business Oregon, the Oregon Business Development Department, or similar name variations of the state’s lead economic development agency.
The callers inquire whether the business has moved recently and the size of their workforce.
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger and Business Oregon warn businesses not to respond to these fake phone calls.
What Happens if You Receive a Suspicious Call?
If your business receives a call from 1-800-247-4047, do not answer and inquire with your phone company about how to block calls from this number.
Oregon businesses are not the sole target of this telemarketing scam. Similar calls have been made to Washington, Minnesota, California, Colorado, and Canadian businesses.
In each instance, the fake telemarketers tell businesses they are with the state economic development office and ask for moving and employee information. In several cases, when a business has responded to the questions asked, new monthly charges appeared on the business’s phone bill.
What Can Be Done About This Type of Phone Scam?
Oregon Department of Justice investigators are looking into this scam right now.
One theory is that the callers are trying to “cram” new services onto the business’s phone bill.
“Cramming” has been around since the deregulation of the telephone industry and happens when a company adds a charge to a phone bill for a service that was never requested, agreed to, or used.
Stay Cautious and Informed
If your business received a call from the fake telemarketers and if your business answered any questions both Attorney General Kroger and Business Oregon recommend contacting your phone service provider immediately to prevent erroneous charges from being added to your phone bill.
If you are in need of any advice on how to protect your business or the help of an attorney, reach out to see how James M. Hillas, P.C. can help with your situation.
Source:
http://www.doj.state.or.us/releases/pages/2011/rel041311a.aspx