The people we work with are receiving more fake bills than ever before. We’re getting copies from clients, we’re seeing them in the mail and in email, and they are looking like real invoices.
We have many smart business owners with whom we work. I am surprised monthly by how many of these owners or managers have paid fake invoices. To their credit, these invoices look real. But read the documents carefully, and MOST say that they are not an invoice, but an offer of services. Services you already have with another vendor. So please be wary when seeing a new bill for your domain name, hosting, or email.
Currently, we are seeing fake invoices for domain names or web hosting. Bills come in saying you owe them $250 for your domain name for the next year, and say that you are in danger of losing your domain name. Realize that a domain with us is not only safe, but it will rarely cost more than $30 per year. We’ve seen fake hosting bills for as high as $800 per year. Our hosting is right around $270 per year.
We recommend you keep your domain name, hosting, and email with ONE trusted source. Then, you know at all times where your important web assets are, and it’s much easier to make changes and update your website when your data is all in one place.
Unfortunately, we are also starting to see fake medical bills and attorney bills. Most of these scams target older people, who diligently pay bills as soon as they are received. A unique target has been people starting a trust. There are public notices announcing the trust, and unscrupulous people see the notices and send invoices, hoping for payment without providing any services. These companies are not related to the legal firm you’ve used. This scam preys on a person’s lack of knowledge of the process, and these invoices are frequently paid. So KNOW who you are working with. Don’t pay bills you don’t recognize. If in doubt, share them with your medical provider, attorney, or agency.
As a free service, you are welcome to bring in any invoice that you suspect is not real. We can quickly look at it and tell you if it is an honest invoice or a fake. Send an email scan or photo to info@poolecommunications.com, or just come on by for a quick visit. We’ll get right back to you and let you know what is real and what is fake.
We’re here to help. Let us know how we can help your business.
As a reminder, invoices from Poole Communications are sent directly via mail or email. You will not receive charges from third-party sources EVER, or be charged unusually high amounts for services provided.
Received a fake invoice, or need help reviewing one? Give us a call at 573-221-3635… or send us an email at info@poolecommunications.com.
