BBB issues warning on business scam

LIMA – The Better Business Bureau of West Central Ohio is warning businesses of a scam that involves large, but fake, orders of merchandise, services or food.

According to Neil Winget of the Lima BBB, the scam involves a caller using the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) relay system to place a large order of a business’s products or services on behalf of a local charity or non-profit organization, says they will pay with a credit card, but then dupe the person they’re dealing with to up the credit card amount and ask that the balance of the credit card amount be wired to them through Western Union for what they call “shipping and handling” charges.

The credit card used is either stolen and counterfeit and the business is liable to pay back the credit card overage.

The FCC relay system, normally used by people with handicaps, is used by scam artists so they can’t be identified.

Area businesses should be wary of calls that:

• Come through the FCC relay system.
• Include placement of a large order for goods or services.
• The caller claims to represent a local charity, church or other non-profit agency or organization.
• An amount higher than the actual purchase is asked to be placed on the credit card.
• The caller uses a familiar sounding last name, such as that of a celebrity.

Any business that receives such a call should immediately report it to the FCC and the Better Business Bureau at 419.223.7010.