Joe Kowalewski, national communications and technical services manager at Printing Industries says the franchise operations were being targeted nationally with the most recent instances focusing on Victorian outlets.

He says, “The scam operators are following their usual routine of e-mailing quotation requests and following up with phone calls, often citing local contact addresses to draw in unsuspecting staff.

“For example, earlier this week a scammer identified himself as Jay Martins of the Church Of Christ, 15 Urban Street , Braeside VIC 3195 and requested a quote for 100,000 single-sided full colour A4 flyers. The address was false.

Kowalewski said the scammers usually ask for quotations without freight costs to maintain their facade by suggesting the job will be collected locally and paid for via a credit card account. As the communications progress the scammer introduces the need to ship the printing overseas.

He says, “The franchise was asked to provide a freight quote and to include the cost of the freight on the final bill to be paid by credit card. Details of a ‘recommended’ freight company were provided – Speedway Freight & Logistics Co Ltd and email contacts were provided.

“In this case the franchise operator, a Printing Industries member, became suspicious about the job, and was able to get advice from Printing Industries which confirmed that the company was being targeted in a scam.

“The next step would have been a request by the freight company for prepayment by the franchise via a Western Union money transfer. This is the core of the scam, getting the printing company to outlay its own funds on the basis of receiving reimbursement when the account is finalised.”

Kowalewski adds that of course there would be no reimbursement as the credit cards either won’t work or are stolen and the printer, if able to use them, would have to reimburse the issuing bank.

Even if companies become aware they are being targeted by a scam, they had often used staff time to prepare quotes, modify artwork, liaise with the scammer and perhaps even arrange stock, according to Kowalewski.

He adds, “It’s important that all staff be made aware of how the scammers operate and learn to recognise the bogus requests before they waste time on them.”

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