Small Town News

Phone Relay Service used in attempted scam against businesses

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Dan Hendrickson, Communications Coordinator - 651-695-2463/ dhendrickson@thefirstbbb.org

The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is warning all businesses, but particularly restaurants, that they're being targeted by scammers who are abusing Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) in an attempt to defraud them. Two restaurants in the Twin Cities have reported this scam to the BBB in recent days, so it's very likely other restaurants are being contacted too.

The Telecommunications Relay Service is a telephone service that allows people with hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive phone calls. TRS communications assistants serve as 'middle men' for the calls, relaying what the hearing-impaired person types to the called party by voice, and converting to text what the called party voices back to the calling party.

How the scam works: Scammers place a call through TRS to a restaurant and place an unusually large order, often for delivery. The scammer then offers to pay with a credit card and usually asks if they can overpay and have the overage wired back to them. Inevitably, the credit card used by the scammer is discovered to be stolen, leaving the company out those funds and the funds they wired to the scammers.

Though this scam appears to be heavily targeting restaurants, it can easily be altered and used on any type of business. To avoid falling victim to this scheme and others like it, the BBB advises that businesses:

Keep their guard up and never wire money to unfamiliar parties, even if they've given you a credit card number to cover the cost.

Inform their employees of scams of this nature and how they operate.

Implement policies about payment processes and make sure all employees follow proper protocol.

If you ever receive an unusual order or have concerns about a potential scam, contact the BBB at 651-699-1111, toll-free 800-646-6222 or online at www.bbb.org.

The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to promote, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct; and to instill public confidence in responsible businesses through programs of education and action that inform, protect and assist the general public. Our hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the BBB at www.bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free at 1-800-646-6222.



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© 2011 Sentinel Tribune Westbrook, Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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