Regina business owner warns of scam invoices

The owner of a small business in Regina is warning others to be on the lookout for fake invoicesarriving by mail.

Sonja Clifton-Remple, whoowns Studio S Fashion House, got a letter this week containing an invoice from "DirectPages411" in Montreal claiming a bill for $776.99 was overdue.

Right away she knew something was off.

"I know I never did business with this company," she said.

Clifton-Remple said, at a glance,the documentseemed like a legitimate letter, but as sheexamined it closer, the invoice looked "different." Her business's address was wrong andthere was no contact name,phone number or email for the company that sent the invoice.

When she went online to look up the company, she found multiple warnings about scam invoices for the exact same amount.

She posted the letter on FacebookWednesday, warning of the scam.

"I wanted to get it out there before people get taken advantageof," she said.

Clifton-Remple said since thenabout six people who run small businesses in the city have told her they've received the same letter.

Les Parker, a spokesman with the Regina Police Service, said they're aware of the letter received by Clifton-Rempleandsaid they encourage peopleto be on top of their billing so they don't get taken in by fake invoices.

This particular scam has been all over the country, he added.

He said anyone who receives one of the letters should notifythe Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and anyone who has fallen victim to fraudshould contact police.