Case studies

The following are illustrations of how scammers have targeted businesses, taken from the real life experiences the OFT has come across.

Back to top

Office supply scam

A business was contacted by telephone. The caller asked to whom they were speaking and for the business to confirm their delivery address. Following this, office supplies arrived, which the business realised they had never ordered. The caller had put the name of the person who had answered the telephone on the delivery note to imply that they had placed the order.

Realising that these goods were not from their regular supplier, the business rang the supplying company immediately to ascertain who had placed the order. The company did not know the name of the business, the name of the person who placed the order or have an order number.

The business returned the goods in the original packaging and marked the boxes 'unsolicited goods – return to sender'. The business also faxed the company a certificate of posting indicating that the goods had been returned by them and received at the delivery address.

The following week the business received an invoice for the goods. The business rang the company to advise that the goods had been returned in accordance with the customer satisfaction note included with the goods and that the invoice should be cancelled or a credit note issued. The company's representative become very aggressive and claimed that the posting certificate was insufficient proof that the goods had been returned. The business informed the company that they would not pay for goods they had not ordered.

Later another letter was received, but rather than open it, the business posted it back marked 'unsolicited goods – return to sender'. The business has not received any further communications from the company.

Back to top

Business directory scams

A business was sent a form from a directory publisher, which stated that they were updating their data on businesses and asked the recipient to check it. The form was sent back and signed as the business believed the directory was free of charge. But in fact by signing the form they were agreeing to place an order for an insertion in the business directory. The business wrote to the publisher to cancel the order but the publisher said they did not receive it. The publisher sent invoices and reminders and stated that they will not cancel as they need to receive cancellation within seven days of signing the order. The business has now received a letter from a debt collector requesting payment of over EUR 1,100 within 15 days otherwise formal legal action would be commenced. 

Find out ways you can protect your business from the scammers.

Back to: Scams