Universities and colleges are prime targets for scams because of their decentralized budgets, ordering practices, and changing personnel. The SUNY Buffalo State Procurement Department has been made aware of several recent potential scam attempts.
The most common commodities that are scammed are advertising, copier toner, light bulbs, ice-melting products, office supplies, printer cartridges, and chemicals, but scams can involve any commodity or service that exists.
The best way to avoid a scam is to stay informed, remain alert, and question when something doesn't sound right or seems too good to be true.
Common techniques:
- Telephone or e-mail solicitations offering a "special sale"
- Callers asking what kind of copy machine you have in your office
- Companies offering to send you free samples
- Companies offering to ship a product without a purchase order and bill you later
- Companies sending in an actual tear sheet of a real classified employment advertisement with a phony invoice
- Unknown solicitors calling to ask for your shipping address
- Companies shipping goods that were never ordered and then sending an inflated invoice for payment
- Companies using a name similar to, but not exactly the same as, a company you deal with
- Companies selling items at greatly discounted prices but claiming you need to order now to take advantage of the savings
- Callers who state that the "college's president referred me to you"
- Companies who say they are selling discontinued items at closeout prices
- Callers who ask for your account number or credit card number
If you suspect that you have been contacted by a possible scammer, advise the caller that it would be best to let Procurement Services speak to them and give them the Procurement phone number: (716) 878-4113. Chances are they will not call. If the caller is persistent, please collect as much company information as you can and contact Steve Olsen, director of contract management, 878-4113.
