PHOENIX - Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed an Arizona Consumer Fraud Lawsuit against INT Sourcing LLC, Premiere Office Supplies LLC, and their owner James R. Deremiah. The Defendants are accused of sending fake toner cartridge invoices to churches, schools, and businesses to trick businesses into paying the fake invoice as a routine business matter. Those involved in scams such as the one alleged are known in the copier and printer industry as “toner pirates.”
The Consumer Fraud Lawsuit alleges that Defendants first contacted their victims by telephone, posing as a legitimate business to gain information about the victim’s personnel and equipment. Then, Defendants allegedly sent the business an invoice for toner cartridges that it did not order, utilizing the information obtained over the phone.
According to the lawsuit, Defendants intentionally included the word “Invoice” in large, bold font on the invoices, along with several other deceptive features, including the words “PLEASE REMIT PAYMENT,” the victim’s name under “BILL TO,” and a five-digit number under “Invoice #.”
Although Defendants would send the victim toner cartridges after the victim paid, the retail value of the toner cartridge was allegedly only a tenth of what the victim paid. Defendants allegedly used these invoices to collect over $400,000 from unsuspecting victims.
The State’s lawsuit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, seeks consumer restitution, attorneys’ fees, and a fine of up to $10,000 for each violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act.
This case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Aaron M. Duell in the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section.
If you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, you can file a consumer complaint by contacting the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Attorney General’s website.
Full copy of the Consumer Fraud Lawsuit.