Yellow Pages Scam
Beware the fake phone book listing scam that targets small businesses.
Who Is It Targeting: Locally owned businesses or contractors
What Is It: Phony area directory or yellow pages listings
What Are They After: Officials in one county have had to issue an alert concerning a fake business directory after several businesses reported being contacted. There are many variations on this scam, including some that come via fax and appear to be invoiced for listings. In every version, you pay for an ad but there is no publication.
How Can You Avoid It:
- If your company takes out an ad in a local phone book or directory, make sure you’re only dealing with legitimate sources.
- Your area chamber of commerce or local Better Business Bureau can help you reach out to those genuine sources.
If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from SandHillsExpress.com.
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