Add to the list of fraudulent business directories this bunch who practice the same scam we've already seen from World Wide Source and Pavlos Angelatos. Meet the Frank Family and you will see that this scam is practiced by people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Getting rid of them involves the same strategy you would use with World Wide Source -- usually getting the Attorney General involved. Read this description of the scam as posted by a "former employee" in the comments section of "damnum absque injuria"
Infotel used the threat of legal action in an attempt to silence victims of this scam who contributed to a California blog site. This graphic (courtesy of the Bear Flag League) shows what Californians think of Infotel and its tactics.
AMERI CORP aka INFOTEL PUBLICATIONS aka CBSI
Hey I worked there in Sales; this is [how the scams work]
Categorized as a Legal Counterfeit Company because the products are real it is still a Telemarketing Scam because of the way the products are sold and there is no way of knowing how many are distributed.
Infotel/CBSI Products: (as seen at www.mediacorp.com)
DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS [Price: $379.95]
INFOTEL TOLL FREE DIRECTORY [Price: $379.95]
BRITISH BUSINESS DIRECTORY [Price: 189.95]
ANNUAIRE NATIONAL DES ENTERPRISE FRANCAIS Or FRENCH BUSINESS DIRECTORY (FRANCE) [Price: 304.14]
CANADIAN BUSINESS DIRECTORY [Price: $379.95]
AT & T NATIONAL BUSINESS BUYER'S GUIDE [Price: $12.95]
PAPER ROLLS*
These are National Business to Business Directories. Because they are National (ex. all the U.S. in one book) they are... worthless. Nevertheless, they are what they are and are sold as that and no more.
The only illegal premise is the falsifying of the fact that the company was previously listed. This is fraud and the BBB knows it.
The *Paper Rolls are for Credit Card machines etc. This nickel & dime Scam starts with the sales pitch You are running out of paper etc. The paper is sold by weight. Again the products do exist. This time around the small fry is caught thinking it's his supplier calling. Nothing illegal here, just gullible employees.
Part 1 (Directories)
The Scam starts with the Sales Pitch directed at the unknowing small fry at a company: "Would you like to continue your listing in the 2xxx Directory of American Business, it's the National Business to Business Directory, Yellow and White pages."
The Yellow and White pages draw them in. It's a Phone Book to the small fry. They were previously listed? (This is the Scam, they were not)
The Scam continues with a Shipping Department call: "This is so and so from the Shipping Department of Infotel Publications", I am calling to confirm the details..." The Scam here is to get the small fry to admit he/she is authorized to make the purchase. This call is taped.
If yes, the Scam is set in motion. If no, then it is returned to the sales where it may be pitched again to the same company.
With the Scam set in motion, the company is listed in the directory and on the website www.mediacorp.com. The directory is sent by UPS to the company.
Part 2 (Directories)
The collection department (known in telemarketing as The BOILER room) handles the non paid invoices which make up a large % of the take. The monitored call, the proof of purchase, the authorized small fry, all contributes to the success of the Scam.
The BOILER room rotates the unpaid invoices trying to keep the calls to companies at the US legal debt collecting limit avoiding BBB & Attorney General Complaints. The goal is to get to the Owner, President, or V.P. etc. This is the turn point of the Scam. The Owner, President, V.P. etc. will pay the Full Invoice price, Partial or a Lower Fee or Nothing.
REMEMBER: YOUR INVOICE SAYS 2 YR LISTING, IF YOU PAY, THAT WILL BE FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AND ANOTHER INVOICE WILL FOLLOW NEXT YEAR!
FAQ
Who do they target?
Any and all Businesses including Non-Profit Organizations even Churches (But no Synagogues)
Do I have to pay?
No
How do I stop the Calls?
Call the Better Business Bureau
But Better..
Alert the Attorney General
Who are these guys?
Canadian Telemarketers aimed at the US and Europe
The Owners
Gordon Frank, Ted Frank, Sean Frank
Even the... mother (Rosalyn Cobrin) of these CROOKS works there, it's a FAMILY BUSINESS!
Locations:
Montreal, Toronto
Additional Addresses:
Infotel Publications, 33 Elm Street Merrimack, NH 03054
5 Cotton Lane, Champlain, NY 12919
5101 Buchan suite 250, Montreal, QC H4P 2R9
5250 Decarie Blvd suite 150, Montreal, QE H3X 2H9
94 Main Mill Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Pretoria Road Chertsay, Surrey, UK KT189LW.
Robert
Staunton, Virginia
U.S.A.
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