Scam Uses Relay Service for Hearing-Impaired

ABA has recently received reports from booksellers indicating a resurgence of an ordering scam utilizing teletype relay services, which allow hearing-impaired people to communicate over the telephone. The phony orders generally originate in Nigeria or another African nation and are for large numbers of medical books, textbooks, technical books, or bibles. A stolen credit card is usually offered as the means of payment.

Booksellers receiving overseas orders that are suspect should report them to the closest local field office of the U.S. Secret Service. For the telephone number of your local field office, go to www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml.

The Secret Service has also posted a warning about other Nigerian fraud schemes at www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml.