Beware Yellow Pages & Yell Scams
June 25th, 2010 | 
Author: Trading Standards, together with Yell, have issued a warning to businesses – both in the local area and throughout the UK – over companies impersonating Yell’s products and services, particularly Yellow Pages and Yell.com.
Three scams have come to light that mislead Yell customers into signing up to fake advertising contracts which result in repeated requests for payment. Most customers are duped into thinking they are taking out or renewing existing Yell advertising.
Order forms are sent by e-mail or fax and contain lookalike “Yellow Pages” branding. Customers who return the form subsequently receive invoices and requests for payment.
Three scams have come to light that mislead Yell customers into signing up to fake advertising contracts which result in repeated requests for payment. Most customers are duped into thinking they are taking out or renewing existing Yell advertising.
Order forms are sent by e-mail or fax and contain lookalike “Yellow Pages” branding. Customers who return the form subsequently receive invoices and requests for payment.
Some businesses have received threatening telephone calls. In one instance, scammers have even set up a copycat website resembling Yell.com.
The scams are sophisticated and run by complex overseas networks. Yell customers should be particularly alert to any correspondence they receive containing contact details based in Holland or Germany.
The scams are sophisticated and run by complex overseas networks. Yell customers should be particularly alert to any correspondence they receive containing contact details based in Holland or Germany.
Some of the names to beware of are:
- · Yellow Page UK or Yellow Page AG, which displays an inverted “walking fingers” logo
- · Yellow Pages 24
- · UK Yellow Guide
Yell’s lawyers have recently sent a warning letter to The UK Yellow Guide, warning them regarding possible civil & criminal liability.
The fake emails and websites look very much like the genuine article. If you have any doubts, please contact your local Trading Standards Service.
This is a copy of material published on Leicestershire Trading Standards web site
Posted in Business Alerts