Better Business Bureau Issues Nationwide Warning on Fake Invoicing Scheme
CHICAGO, IL -Â The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a nationwide warning to consumers about a company called IDBS that indicates their address is 2002 Summit Boulevard, Suites 300 & 400, Atlanta, Georgia. They state their nature of business is “web design.”
BBB began receiving complaints on this firm in November 2013. As of this date there have been 158 complaints filed from 39 states. The company has an F rating with BBB for failure to respond to 27 of the complaints, while 2 complaints remain unresolved.
Consumers allege receiving an invoice for $599 for “business listing optimization.” All complainants disputed the charges stating they had never contracted with the company, authorized any charges or received any services. The pattern of complaints remains the same.
Schaumburg, IL businessman, Parul Jain received an invoice. “We got the $599 invoice and I had no idea what it was. I check all bills that come in. They called 2-3 times a day for over a year to try to collect the money. I kept asking for details and proof. They claimed they had me on tape. They didn’t stop until I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. They are ruthless.”
The company has responded to some complaints indicating the following: “Our files indicate that we spoke to (customer). We have a verbal recording of him/her authorizing the invoice on (date). However it is our company policy total customer (sic) satisfaction therefore we closed the account and put the company on our do not call list.”
Some of the invoices list a suite number of 300 while others list suite 400. BBB has received notices from two different businesses that have offices in the same building stating the suite numbers on the invoices belong to them. They also say they have no affiliation with IDBS. Based on this, we are not sure where this company is actually located or if they have an actual physical location.
According to a domain name search of the company’s website, internet-data-solutions.net, this URL was created on October 29, 2013. Currently, the website is no longer active. Attempts to contact the company by phone have not been successful.
BBB has the following tips to avoid being the victim of these types of scams:
- Designate only certain employees to make company purchases.
- Train your staff to direct calls to only employees authorized to order supplies and services.
- Check all documentation before you pay bills. Make sure you intentionally purchased and have received the items for which you have been billed.
- Know your rights. If you receive supplies or invoices for services you didn’t order, don’t pay. It’s illegal for a seller to invoice you, send threatening notices for merchandise you didn’t order, or ask you to return the merchandise.
- Report fraud. Report suspected fraud to BBB, the FTC, the Postal Inspection Service and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
You may read BBB’s full Business Review on this company by clicking here.
There are two additional reports for IDBS listed within BBB’s system:
The BBB Serving Minnesota & North Dakota’s report has an F rating and states “Based on a review of complaints, the BBB has noted a pattern for this company. Complainants, all business owners or business employees, state they have received suspicious bills from IDBS for roughly $600. The complainants have all disputed these bills saying they never contracted with the company, authorized any charges or received any services. The BBB advises businesses who receive bills from this company to file complaints at bbb.org and www.ftc.gov.” Their report may be found by clicking here.
The other BBB Business Review is issued by the BBB Serving Las Vegas. They too have an F rating and indicate this company shows a pattern of complaints involving sending fake invoices to consumers. The report may be viewed by clicking here.
Consumers should verify the address, URL and telephone number of this company when doing any type of search as there are other companies with the same or similar name.
Lastly, BBB questioned the following two advertised claims that appeared on their website:
- Internet Data Solutions is the leading web design company creating custom web design.
- Internet Data Solutions and other strategies to present the best image possible and help clients become a real part of your community.
As of this date we have no record of receiving a response from the firm.
To search for companies you can trust, please visit bbb.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
