Sahara Yellow Pages

This company solicits advertising for an online business directory. Area businesses have reported receiving phone calls from this company who identify themselves as the current directory listing company routinely used , when in fact the companies had not previously transacted business. We believe these marketing practices are deceptive and misleading.

We urge caution if you have been solicited by this company. Our past experience with similar offers has been that these companies all use similar marketing tactics knowing that businesses are sometimes careless with their accounting. They count on these mistakes to earn their profits. Lifting names from mailing lists, business registers, the Yellow Pages or published advertisements, some directory companies send "pro-forma" invoices for directory listings or advertising in various publications, journals or directories. The invoice may seem genuine to the company's accounting department, and may even include the name of a company executive as the "authorizing agent." However, the invoice may be a solicitation in disguise and in very fine print contain the following disclaimer: "This is a solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay unless you accept this offer." Although the law states that it is illegal to send such a solicitation without the disclaimer being conspicuous and in large print, there are those who flout the regulations and send disguised solicitations. These phony invoices are often persistent and may send a company two or more advertising invoices in the hope that the "bill" will be paid twice.

Should you receive similar invoices, write the company to insist upon proof of the order or release from all liability. If the company should indicate this is a solicitation, present the invoice and company's comments to your nearest Postal Inspector. Federal law requires any solicitation in the guise of invoice to warn recipients that it is not a bill, but a solicitation and that there is no obligation to pay. This warning must be in specific sized type and print.