Ahoy there, office captains! Ever heard of toner pirates? No, they’re not sailing the high seas with eye patches and parrots—but they are out to plunder your budget.
Here’s one way it can happen. A sneaky company sends you what looks like a deceivingly legitimate invoice for toner cartridges. It might even offer a tempting discount if you pay electronically. But if you squint at the fine print, you’ll find the real treasure map: “Supplies are warehoused until delivery is requested.”
Translation? You’re paying for toner that will never arrive. That’s right—these scallywags want your gold without giving you a single speck of toner.
Let’s dive into how these toner pirate scams work, how to recognize them and most importantly—how to keep your ship safe from these modern-day buccaneers.
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One of our Managed Print customers spotted a toner pirate scam right away. How? Because their entire printer fleet is managed by Gordon Flesch Company, and we never send surprise invoices or play tricks with your supplies. If it didn’t come from us, it’s not legit.
What might a scammer’s fake invoice look like? Below is a copy of the document our customer received.
At first glance, this document looks very legitimate—clean layout, itemized charges, even a company logo.
But here’s where the trickery comes in. The invoice included a flashy offer—a $100 gift card for whoever submits the payment. Sounds generous, right? That’s the bait. These fraudsters are counting on someone in the office to take the offer at face value and pay up without asking questions.
Luckily, our client was protected under Gordon Flesch Company’s Managed Print Services, so they knew right away this wasn’t from us. We don’t play games with your supplies—and we certainly don’t ask you to pay for toner that doesn’t exist.
ARTICLE: What Is a Security Threat to Printers?
Toner pirates may not wear tricorn hats or swing from ropes, but they’re just as sneaky. Fortunately, there are some clear warning signs that can help you steer clear of their scams. Keep your spyglass handy and watch for these red flags in an email or listen closely during a phone call:
One great thing about having our Managed Print service is that it eliminates the possibility that we will get hit by a toner scheme or false invoice. Even if we get an invoice that looks genuine, I know without checking that it’s not legitimate,”– Amos Cramer, Help Desk Supervisor, Blanchard Valley Health System
If a shipment of toner or ink that you didn’t order is delivered to your workplace—don’t sign for it. And if you get a phone call that feels off, especially one that pressures you to act fast—hang up and call your trusted supplier directly to verify.
Remember, you are not legally obligated to pay for goods you didn’t order. If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a scam, report it to your local Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state’s Attorney General. Staying alert and informed is the best way to keep your office safe from these modern-day buccaneers.
LEARN MORE: GFC Print Security
Working with a Managed Print provider can help minimize this type of fraud. At the Gordon Flesch Company, we offer a single point of contact for ordering supplies, service calls and paying your bills. Reach out to us today for a no-cost, no-obligation assessment of your print environment and check out the free guide below to learn more about what you can expect with a Managed Print program.
