PIA Provides Update on Industry Scam First Reported in April That Targets Printers

Michael Makin, president and CEO of Printing Industries of America (PIA), provides an update to association members on a scam that was reported by the PIA in April, involving a fraudulent direct marketing agency operating out of Montréal and Toronto.

Dear Member,

In April, Printing Industries of America alerted you to a major scam involving a fraudulent direct marketing agency operating out of Montréal and Toronto. Federal authorities believe the targets in this case have been operating under the following names: Direct Market, DMW Direct, API Global Fulfillment, DMG Group Corporation, Global Media, Slim-Tab, and LipoCitrex. The scam artist purports to represent clients marketing weight loss products such as Axera International, BeSlim, and Nutrim.

The scam is simple but effective and has claimed a number of victims. The marketing agency contacts printers via their website with a potential windfall job to produce millions of marketing pieces. The marketing agency literally banks on printers offering a line of credit based on initial feedback from credit references, which are similarly fraudulent.

When printers ask for a check to cover postage, it is promptly sent via UPS. The check looks completely official, including a hologram, and printers deposit it thinking all is well, not realizing that any check drawn on a foreign bank account will take two to three weeks to validate and collect funds. This is the scam — some companies will drop the printed pieces and mail them before the check clears leaving the printer to cover the postage and printing costs.

Sadly, a significant number of PIA members are now out tens of thousands of dollars because of this scam.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) and law enforcement officials on both sides of the border are investigating the matter, and in fact progress has been made.

USPS officials now want to hear specifics from those who have been injured by this scam. If your company has fallen victim or you were approached by any of the aforementioned entities, PLEASE CONTACT POSTAL INSPECTOR MATT SCHMITZ at (920) 869-3719 or via email at mbschmitz@uspis.gov.

Hopefully justice can be served with perhaps restitution even paid to those swindled by this scam.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Michael Makin, MBA
President and CEO
Printing Industries of America

Source: Printing Industries of America.