The Pilot's advertising customers targeted by scammers

NORFOLK

Someone impersonating a Pilot inside sales representative has called advertising customers asking for credit card numbers to renew ads, according to Alison Clifford, The Pilot's classified advertising manager.

Clifford says the scam that hit the newspaper last month isn't common, but papers around the country deal with scams occasionally. Clifford urges customers to beware.

A real inside sales representative will quote a client's unique ad number, she said.

Pilot representatives will not ask for credit card information for renewals, because it's on file. The representative can also quote ad history, which includes billing information, the nature of the ad and when it ran.

In another scam, a college student says she paid $5,300 for a car advertised in print and online in The Pilot, but never got the car. The ad featured a phone number that rang continually, with no opportunity to leave a message, Clifford said. The student then contacted the advertiser through an e-mail address listed in the ad.

The student received an e-mail message asking that she pay for the car through a third-party wiring service, Clifford said.

"We never recommend that people provide money prior to seeing the product they are purchasing," she said.

"Wiring money is a huge red flag, prior to seeing the product."

Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com