Scammer exploits classified advertisers

On February 25, Austin Community Newspapers (ACN) notified the Texas Press Association of a scam in the Austin area that has the potential to surface in other markets.

Apparently someone had used the classified section of one of the ACN's newspapers, the Austin American-Statesman, scanning them for advertiser’s phone numbers. After placing a call to an advertiser, and posing as a Statesman employee, the scammer would ask them to verify their credit card information. Once in their possession they would then use it to make fraudulent charges.

“Make your [employees] aware of this situation if it does come up,” the newspaper group recommends. “We will be building house ads to run in our classifieds warning folks of what is going on. These will run for a few weeks, and then we’ll create a permanent ad that will run in the paper,” he added.

OCNA urges members to also take precautionary measures within their classified departments. Please encourage your advertising clients to verify the identity of someone calling who claims to be an employee of your newspaper so as to avoid scams like the one mentioned above.