Increasing numbers of businesses are being sent fraudulent invoices for goods or services, including office supplies, in the US state.
Hustlers often send invoices for “small amounts of money” for office paper, copy machine ink and other supplies, with the fraudsters’ tactics re-emerging every year or so, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
The Attorney General’s office has issued a warning about the scams, while the Arizona Small Business Association (ASA) have sent a warning to its roughly 10,000 members. Scammers are relying on the businesses not verifying the invoices first, so the Attorney General’s office has advised owners to “review all invoices prior to paying them”.
The office also advises businesses to be wary of invoices without phone numbers and to ensure that the person who makes the orders and the person who pays the bills are communicating with each other. It is also advised not to pay for goods until they have been received.
Kristen Keogh, spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s office, said: “This is something that’s been going on for years. It will kind of die down, then pop back up again. This has come back on our radar. It seems like something people will continually fall for.”
Rick Murray, CEO of ASA, commented: “A lot of small businesses will get a couple dozen invoices here and there. A lot of times they end up paying them, not knowing they’re not from their supplier, because everyone uses those types of toner cartridges.
“If these invoices were for hundreds and hundreds of dollars, or thousands of dollars, then there would be a lot more scrutiny. But because they fly below the radar, that’s really the sweet spot for these scammers.”