Yellow Pages United: Scam Alert!
By Erin | August 02, 2009 | Online Marketing
I’d like to focus on one thing and one thing only today. If you own a business or if you’re in charge of managing the paperwork/reading the mail for a business, I encourage you to pay close attention.
The continued proliferation of spammy emails, misleading banner advertisements, and fake newsletters has shown that as technology evolves, so too, do hoaxes and scams aiming to covertly take money from the unsuspecting.
Twice now in the past three weeks the people behind a grossly unethical scam have attempted to steal my money. It’s my hope that sharing information about this scam will keep local businesses from unwittingly handing over their hard-earned money to the company behind this scam – Yellow Pages United.
Sometimes Yellow Pages United Calls You…
Some say it starts with a phone call. A phone call in which someone wishes to “verify your phone book listing details”.
Here’s the unthinkable part: A quick Google search shows how Yellow Pages United has taken these recorded phone calls, cut and mixed them, then later played them back to business owners so it sounds as if they have actual proof of the business owner agreeing to additional services or upgrades.
In other words, if you ever receive a phone call from someone asking to verify your phone book or online yellow pages listing, hang up immediately.
The Scam Gets Worse (aka the “Invoice”)
Though I myself never received a phone call from Yellow Pages United, I did receive their “Invoice”. You can see an image of the envelope this document came in right here. The Invoice Enclosed text means it’s almost impossible to categorize the envelope’s contents as junk mail upon first glance.
The sheet of paper inside the envelope reads INVOICE in bold, capital letters across the top. It shows a fake, scanned order request. Yellow Pages United even crossed out my correct phone and fax numbers, replacing them with incorrect numbers hoping that I’d call to their customer service number and ask them to fix my incorrect contact info — which in turn acts as me acknowledging and approving the listing.
See an Example of Their Fake Invoice
Take a look at a scan of the fake invoice I received.
Disturbingly, if you take a moment to read the fine print below the faked order request, you’ll find it states that “THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR THE ORDER OF GOODS OR SERVICES … AND NOT A BILL, INVOICE, OR STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT DUE….” The text goes on, but I think you get the point. The best part of the fine print asks you to review the terms of the agreement on the back of the sheet of paper; there are none.
What’s most disturbing?
The forgery.
Not only does the document says “ORDER SIGNED BY - ERIN PHEIL” when I never signed a thing, but there’s an actual signature on the document. And plain and simple, that is NOT my signature. I don’t and never will sign my name with a capital “E”.
Yellow Pages United forged my signature, looking to make the document appear to be a previously-handled agreement. I’m far from a lawyer, but it’s my understanding that forgery is illegal.
Can Yellow Pages United Legally Use the Logo & Business Name?
Unfortunately, the Walking Fingers logo is in the public domain and can thus be used freely by anyone in the United States. Same goes for the phrase “Yellow Pages”.
So… What Can You Do?
Remember: despite the repeated instances of INVOICE on the Yellow Pages United envelope and document, and despite the document stating twice that that $296.00 is the AMOUNT DUE NOW… these pieces of paper are nothing but an underhanded attempt to take money from busy, hardworking people who can’t remember whether or not they signed up with this particular Yellow Pages company.
In the end there’s really nothing to worry about here so long as:
- you’re aware of this scam
- you remember to hang up on people wishing to verify your online Yellow Pages listing, and
- you can identify fake invoices if they ever show up in your mailbox.
To learn more, I encourage you to google “Yellow Pages United scam”.
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Comments
Hello,
What if you answer and went through there phone call? Will I get there hoax bill? Can i Fight it? I received the phone call about 20 min ago, something didn’t seem right. So while they were talking to me I was googling there phone number. Hmm yellow pages united doesn’t have a listing. That doesn’t make sense. So I called the number back on my cell phone and it gave me some lady and she clammed a car accident knocked out a telephone pole. Causing the phone number to go crazy, and that she had had several phone calls over the last 15 min. I think she might have been part of the scam too. What do I do? I’m nervous and kind of shaken over this whole thing. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to stop this before it gets worse.
Thanks,
Warren
Hello there,
I’m most definitely not an expert when it comes to legal issues such as this, nor do I know exactly how this company functions so I cannot confirm whether or not you’ll receive a hoax bill. Instead of worrying, I’d sit back and relax and, if something bad happens or they start harassing you, I would contact an attorney… I don’t think is something to be shaken about, though…. try to relax.
Yes, we received a bill from them for $396.00! Is there a way to report them and shut them down?
MK
Since opening my office in July I have received an “Order Form” from Yellow Pages United every month. The first time I got it I tore it up and threw it away the next few times I would mail it back to them (so they had to pay for the postage) and marked through all the info and wrote on it to TAKE ME OFF THEIR LIST.
Today I received another one and decided to look them up on the web. Found their website and called the number listed. I spoke with Allison #1662 who told me she could not remove me from their mailing list that I would have to contact the three companies that they purchase their company info from. These companies are: Acxiom, InfoUSA, & Dunn & Bradstreet. I contacted all three companies and requested them not to give my information out to any other companies that want to mail me anything to purchase. I was told my InfoUSA that Allison was wrong and that they could remove me from their list.
I called back and got Allison again and she told me the same thing. I told her I wanted to speak to a supervisor and Lisa got on the phone. She told me she would remove me from their list. She said I might receive one more thing that might “slip through the cracks” but that would be the end of it.
I will keep you posted on this!
It is so aggravating that in our busy lives we have to take the time out of our schedules to stop something that never should have happened to begin with. It is a sad day when deceitful people try to make money off hard working people instead of earning a decent wage themselves.
Happy New Year!
ok so they sent me the invoice with a wrong listing (one letter wrong) we fixed the listing and sent it back where we then received a bill for the 396 dollars. the listing they sent back was even more wrong with now 2 letters wrong. i called the customer service number and talked to a david, when i told him i am not paying the bill he seemed more than happy to cancel it for me.(sounded like a college male with some chatter in the background…very unprofessional even though with the main menu would trick some.) after telling him my invoice number that was on the bill he said the account was cancelled with a 0 balance i asked for a conformation number and i was given a 4 digit number. after hanging up i called back to see if it was david again…it was a different college sounding male i asked him for a conformation email. i was then sent a no subject email with attachment from Christopher mcgill. (which i did not open)
so this is most definitely a scam. i didnt call them out on being a scam only because they were willing to work with me i just wanted to be in and out but why would the email be a no subject with attachment so BE WARE but if you had made the mistake just call and cancel because they dont want to be caught
i just got a bill for $396 with my signature on it. i had filled out a card verifying my address i thought it was for a complimentary basic listing like most phone book companies do. I read it thoroughly and saw nothing stating it would cost me $396!. Can they send me to collections for this?
i just got a bill for $396 with my signature on it. i had filled out a card verifying my address i thought it was for a complimentary basic listing like most phone book companies do. I read it thoroughly and saw nothing stating it would cost me $396!. Can they send me to collections for this?
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What he said |
I’m one that usually just writes a check when I get a bill.
These people Are disgusting.
And hiring some college kid to help keep up with there scam?
There has to be a way to stop it!
You need to be more diligent than ever to avoid these scam artists. I even had them call me professing to be from ATT, and could I verify my ATT security code. If it would have really been ATT, they would never ask for the account security code. I don’t know why some regulatory body from the government doesn’t look into these companies and shut them down.
Hello all,
I realize that this article was posted awhile back, but let me assure that this SCAM is still in full swing. I work for a Internet Provider that is somewhat small, but somewhat large. (I know that this statement is a oxy-moran but bear with me.) I work for company that has seen its “up’s and down’s” and has been mis-managed in the past but has a strong customer base. One of (my many jobs) is to get to the bottom of where our marketing money has gone, and what is the return that we are receiving on our marketing Source Code Reports.
One issue kept popping up, and that issue was.. “Yellow Pages United”. We operate with two offices. One, the office that I work out of, and two, a corporate office. Both offices have received faxes and mail. We have received so much of this, that the owner of the company was ready to send a payment of $296 but decided to check with me first. So I dug in deep. I attempted to contact “Yellow Pages United” on many different occaisions but to no avail. The last mailing that we received(4-16-2010) from “Yellow Pages United” actually used the name of an employee that was terminated over two years ago!!
Just thought you would want to know….Thank you for your Posting!!!!!!
I just realized that this is a scam. I actually paid the $396. When I received the directory, I saw that it is a national directory, for which I have absolutely use. I called a similar company as mine to see if they knew the nature of this directory and if they paid the “bill”. I am waiting for someone to call me back. I’m wondering if there is any criminal or civil wrong involved with this and if some kind of lawsuit could be filed. I am going to contact a local attorny.
Please tell me you didn’t write them a check, though, did you? I can’t believe they haven’t been shut down yet — this has been going on for a VERY long time now!
Oh no!! I can’t believe they took almost $400 of your money; that’s horrible. I’m wondering, though, what a local attorney will be able to do–I’m guessing it would be more expensive to work with one on this matter than it would be to drop it. Even though dropping it wouldn’t make you feel better or do anyone else any good.
Please do return and tell us what your attorney says!! So many of us want to know!!
You will be pleased to here that these scammers have been arrested!
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2010-07-06/story/defense-attorney-no-fraud-no-425-million-yellow-pages-criminal-case
These guys are in deep trouble!
Such great news that there’s hope that the Yellow Page United Scam may not continue to harm people. Well… not *this* particular scam, at least…
Don’t hold your breath - I received an invoice for August so what has changed ? From reading the post on the arrest I think they will continue to operate. JMO!
I just received a 2nd invoice today for $396 from Yellow Pages United (out of Atlanta, GA). With the photo copy of a signed form I signed & returned thinking it was for my local yellow pages asking me for updates to my listing. After I received the 1st invoice, it didn’t feel right so I googled the company only to discover it is a scam. So I ignored the first invoice so today I get this 2nd invoice. I’m not sure if I’m obligated to pay it or not. I tried to call but it was after their business hours. I will attempt again tomorrow.
And as if that wasn’t enough, I also got in today’s mail another “listing order form” requesting changes to my listing and a signature. But get this…it’s a totally different company …called US-Yellow, Yellow Pages out of Jackonsville, FL.
I’m usually not caught by scams, but some of these people are good at what they do and it’s unfortunate!
I’m learning to check the internet before making a decisions now!
I just recieved a bill for $198.00 for confirming address in the yellow pages. I just signed a card to confirm the address. NOW three weeks later I get this invoice. What do I do now? I called the number and there was a recording saying “we are closed for the day”. Even on the card it has THE LITTLE FINGERS DOING THE WALKING….ICK and says, “YELLOW PAGES UNITED”
I am getting a bill from Yellow Page B.V. for $2136. The billing they are sending me has my signature on it, but I am certain, that I did not sign it. It asked for an updated address, but there was no writing at the bottom. Now there is writing, stating I agree to a 2 year contract. Can I get out of this? They are now asking for $534 within 10 days to cancel the order.
hi there. i received an invoice last week from united yellow pages. i don’t remember contacting any yellow pages to advertise online or in print my business. so i called them and talked to a james moore. he seems nice because he acknowledged that there is confusion. he lowered my bill from $480.00 to $240.00 if i pay my bill today. he also said that he would remove me from listing. he also wants me to forward any calls or invoice from other company to them as my “legal department” and they will help me. are yellow pages united and united yellow pages the same? if they are, what can i do? should i contact an attorney? oh and besides united yellow page, super pages also contacted me and said that i owe them almost $1,000.00.
I paid the $396, found that they have relocated to Jacksonville. When I called for a refund of my money they gave me a four digit cancellation number and said the money would be refunded within 4 - 5 weeks. Has anyone gotten their money back?
I’ve gotten the same bill from Yellow Pages United since May. I have never paid it, I just file it. The amount never changes, but the due date does (according to the month we are in). I’m hoping that one day this will just stop?
They were sending out a check for 5 bucks for a while with a contract on the back stating if you endorse this check and deposit it they will sign you up bla bla bla
that same form came to my business. I then got their $396 bill which is due “upon receipt”. A month or so ago and I keep getting them. Now it comes with a photocopy of my sig and other stuff. I certainly wont pay it, but we really need to get together and get this stopped. Blatantly deceitful.
But WAIT, there’s more! Today I got a “past due” bill from US-Yellow saying that I owe them $229.00 PLUS a $458.00 “late fee”!
I just got the same bill $396.00 I just signed a card to confirm the address. NOW I get this invoice. I am not going to pay it.
I got the card in the mail thought it was complimentary listing, it says “Not a Bill, Invoice or Statement of Account Due…You Are Under No Obligation”, And now I get a Bill for $396.00. I looked at the Invoice and its from Atlanta GA and the envelope is from Jacksonville FL? I called and they are not open. I have been getting calls from GA but when I answer the phone they keep hanging up on me. So word to the wise If you did not call about it yourself don’t do anything!
I did just go to their web site http://www.yellowpagesunited.com and went to customer service you can go to invoice options and cancel my account…so I did and now it shows me at a Zero Balance…Lets see how true they really are….
Low and behold it’s 2011 and I fell for it I got the official (so I thought) yellow pages request about a month ago and filled out the correct information. I was so excited to have my first business in the yellow pages. My business is new and I thought this would be great to have the info in the Yellow Pages. To my dismay, I received the official invoice the other day for $396.00!!!! Sweet Jesus..I thought to myself- it’s really expensive to have your business posted. My ‘request’ for this sevcice was scanned in and looks very official. I then looked at the bottom of the ‘invoice’ and noticed that there is some fine print stating the terms and conditions. As I read through them I don’t recal seeing them on the bottom before. Does anyone recal this information being there? I’m usually diligent on reading the fine print. I’m so thankful that this comment board is here. My only concern is that they have my buisness name, home address, cell number AND signature!!! I highly doubt they can send me to collections but i’m still worried
We get these come on every year, and if your not careful you will get a bill for services. I thought about starting my own scam, except my logo will be sticking up the middle finger, instead of fingers doing the walking.
I too received a fake bill from them after, I filled out what looked like a free listing.
This is what I’m sending them in their return envelope:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yellow Pages United
Po Box 50038
Jacksonville, FL 32240-0038
This is a scam. We did not request a paid for ad from your company, only the free one. I will be reporting you to several better business bureau sites which rate online stores.
Please cease and desist. Any further contact other than to act knowledge your error, will result in a harassment case being brought against you.
Thank you,
xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx
This scam is live and well. Today I received the “Invoice”. I called and told them to remove the listing which they said they would do without a fight. I unfortunately shredded the invoice not thinking to send it to my lawyer. If I get another scam invoice next month believe me I will.
Scum Scan still going strong.2013!Never got a call or e wanting my services can’t even find where I am supposedly listed.& this is the last moment I will spend on this trash after reading all of the comments from you all.Thanks
They must have got my information from Dunn and Bradstreet as we recently registered with them. I will be copying “chris’s” letter and sending that back to them as I had an identical experience.
What are your thoughts? Any questions?