Scam Targets Libraries

The volume of information any decent-sized university library must maintain, and the number of providers selling that information on a daily basis, has led to a developing scam involving fake claims that targets university libraries, according to an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (here).  Telemarketers are calling libraries demanding payment for items they claim were ordered, and threatening lawsuits if not paid immediately, even though the library never ordered the information.  They even submit false invoices, hoping that they will get lost in the shuffle and be paid without the library checking the bills carefully. Libraries are like any organization that does a large volume of business with multiple vendors, but with university budget cutbacks, the costs of any fraud are felt by a large number of students and faculty. (ph)