Thurston County Chamber of Commerce warns customers about fake ad scam
The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce is warning customers about a scam, an official with the organization said Tuesday.
The chamber releases a business directory publication in May, and to produce it, the chamber works with an area contractor called Town Square Publications, chamber President and Chief Executive David Schaffert said.
But on Monday a representative of Town Square alerted the chamber about the scam, he said.
The scammer, using an area phone number, produced a fake “ad proof” — an example of an advertisement to appear in the publication — and then produced an invoice for the cost of the fake ad.
The chamber has alerted members about the scam via email, including an email sent to The Olympian.
Schaffert said business directory customers will be notified about the real directory’s publication beforehand by letter, followed by sales calls in May.
All businesses should be alert to potential scams during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
“Everybody be cautious, take a deep breath and look at what people are asking you to do,” Schaffert said.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 12:49 PM.
