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WRA recently learned of a scam targeting restaurants and caterers involving the fraudulent use of relay operator services. Relay is an operator-assisted phone service for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired. Operators relay calls between deaf and hearing persons, typing what is said to the deaf person and reading what is typed to the hearing person.
Traditional relay connects a TTY or text telephone to a regular telephone. Now, however, relay is also available on the internet. A computer or text messaging mobile device takes the place of the TTY machine. With internet relay, anyone can make a relay call as if they were deaf. In fact, some are not and that is where the problem occurs. Many of these calls are originating in African countries. Relay operators aren’t allowed to reveal information to the recipient of the call other then what the intended message is, so even if they believe they are being used in a scam they aren’t supposed to comment on it.
Restaurant operators from around the country are reporting scams involving the fraudulent use of relay operators and very large to-go orders. In one case the scam perpetrator (using the relay operator as a go-between) placed a large order and asked that a third party “professional delivery” service be used to pick up the food. Then a request was made that the entire amount (including the professional delivery service) be run on several different credit cards and the restaurant operator should then wire the dollar amount of the delivery service via Western Union. The assumption is that the con artists are planning to cancel the transactions after you have run the cards through your system (showing up as pending) and AFTER you have wired the money for the delivery service (but before you’ve had the chance to settle your batches).
If you should get a call involving the use of relay operators and a similar scheme – don’t fall prey to it.
HOW TO SPOT A SCAMMER USING RELAY
(reprinted with permission from The Capital Times – by Katjusa Cisar )
Be suspicious if: A caller orders large quantities of merchandise.
A caller is impatient and wants products shipped immediately, especially to an international location.
A caller uses multiple credit card numbers or wants to split an order between several credit cards. Businesses should always ask for the CVV (Card Verification Value) code, located on the back of credit cards.
A caller wants to use a third party “shipping agent.”
A caller shows little to no interest in the product being purchased.
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