Recently our family business was called by a company claiming they were selling advertisements to place on sports seat cushions being sold to benefit Cleveland Middle School. Because we are always looking to support the local area schools we agreed to do this. My husband originally spoke to the individual in reference to what we would like to have in the ad. A few days later they called me to confirm the information that would be placed in the ad. I tried to call the company back later the same day but was unable to reach them on the phone number I was given. Then I called the middle school to see if they had the correct number where I could reach the company - but the individual I spoke with at Cleveland Middle School didn't know anything about this group. I have now received an invoice for $299.50 from the company and the same incorrect phone number is listed. I tried searching the Internet and what I found was the following article warning school systems & businesses about this company. They really sounded legit. Businesses Beware of SCOREBOARD PRODUCTIONS. I'm making calls to Cleveland Middle, The School Board & the NC Attny Generals office this morning. http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/07/07/rmnashschoolsscam.html School officials: Be wary of scam Click-2-Listen By Zach Ahmad Rocky Mount Telegram Saturday, July 07, 2007 Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools officials are warning area businesses and the public to be on the lookout for a company claiming a false association with the school system. Communications Director Sandy Drum said the school district has been made aware of a business going by the name of Scoreboard Productions that has been contacting local businesses and offering them the opportunity to put their logos on "thundersticks," inflatable props used to make noise at sporting events. The businesses were told the thundersticks would then be sold to Red Oak Middle School, which could resell them and keep the profits. However, Drum said neither Red Oak Middle School nor the school district has any kind of contract with Scoreboard Productions, and cannot confirm that the company exists. "We want to make our business partners aware that this is not being done by a particular school or the school system," Drum said. "There is no partnership with this company." Drum said she made a call to the N.C. attorney general's office and did some preliminary research into Scoreboard Productions, but was unable to find any specific information on the company. A search for the company's given name returned no results on the N.C. secretary of state's corporation registry, and a phone number given to businesses for the company returns only a busy signal. Jennifer Canada, spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Justice, said the office has received one complaint about Scoreboard Productions, but did not know any details. She said the state urges all consumers to approach any solicitations for money with skepticism and to do more background research if they are at all suspicious. "We always tell people that when people call you, if you have a questions, hang up and ask to call them back," Canada said. "It's always good to double check." The school district was alerted to the situation – which Drum said she was not prepared to call a scam – by Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education member Bob Jenkins, who said his brother received a call from the company more than a week ago. He said he felt the school system needed to take some kind of action to let the public know the company is operating under false pretenses. "It could be a big problem," Jenkins said. "The last thing we want to do is have parents of students donate for what they think is a good cause for the school system and then find out they got taken."
Recieved the same call the other day but told them I was not interested. Another company to watch out for is JAM Sports Marketing out of Texas that I did shirts with last September for West Johnston High School basketball team. Ended up finally getting the shirts in April. Tried to contact West Johnston athletic director and he never returned my call either. JAM Sports said they would issue a refund and then refused after I received the shirts. Reported them to the BBB in Fort Worth, TX but since they are not a member there is nothing that can be done. Couldn't even read the phone number for our business on the shirts.
Just curious - I saw that DeniseMan1 received a call from these individuals. Was anyone else solicited by Scoreboard Productions recently? The individual I spoke with at the NC Atty. Generals office said they had to receive numerous complaints concerning a specific business before they could do anything. In the meantime they told me to download a consumer complaint form from their website at www.ncdoj.gov -> consumer protection tab http://www.ncdoj.gov/default_forms....d=complaint&hidesearchcrit=true&action=submit Apparently, this company can actually try sending us to collections demanding we pay this bill if we don't fill out this form. If anyone else fell for this scam, please contact the Atty Generals office at 1-877-566-7226 and/or fill out the form.
http://www.indreg.com/Default.cfm?Date=08/31/2005 Another article from a county in Wisconsin who had a similar issue with this company: Local scam is cause for concern We have recently been made aware that a company, Scoreboard Productions, has been contacting local businesses again misrepresenting an affiliation with Brodhead School District. They have been falsely claiming that if the businesses purchase items with advertisements, they would directly benefit the schools. Please note that this is a scam. Hang up! No one has authorized this service. It is not the practice of Brodhead School District to employ the services of any company for the purpose of soliciting businesses. This came to our attention last year and Scoreboard Productions was contacted. They were told to cease their solicitation of businesses in the name of Brodhead School District along with any individual connected with the district. They have not. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has been contacted along with the Better Business Bureau of Ft. Worth, Texas. Please note that if you receive a phone call from any business claiming an affiliation with Brodhead School District, you should contact the building principal. Brodhead School District has appreciated the overwhelming support provided by community individuals and businesses. It is a terrible shame that there are people who would take advantage of this community good will. If you have any questions pertaining to this information, contact the school office.
Did anybody report this to the BBB or the attourney general's office, or maybe the news? They will usually report things like this to the public to really get the word out to other counties etc.
I used WhitePages.com to do a reverse search looking at the address on the invoice. I did see a company listed as Arlington Century Printing Inc using the phone number (817)633-3300. When I called the invidual who answered said the company name was Universal Ad (www.universalad.com). When I asked them about my invoice I was told that the individual who handled sales for "Scoreboard Productions" was not in. I did pass this information along with the form I filled out for the Atty General's office.
I did call the Atty General's office - but I was told multiple individuals had to report claims against a company before they took any action. They only have one other complaint in the State of NC so far. I also called an individual with the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and asked if they could warn other business owners. The individual I spoke with at the Chamber asked me to call the Smithfield Herald. Unfortunately the deadline had already passed for submissions for the Smithfield Herald when I called. The individual I spoke with wasn't sure if they would do a story or not because not many other folks had reported being scammed by Scoreboard Productions. I did mention that I had posted the information on this discussion board and they seemed interested in knowing how many others were contacted by this company. When I spoke with the indivdual with Johnston County Schools - they said their atty advised them to contact the Johnston County Sheriff's dept. I'm not sure anything will be done though. I didn't actually give this company any money and I don't know if any others did either. I'm hoping folks realize this is a scam before they mail this company any money.
Jam Sports Wow. I am shocked to hear that about Jam Sports. They did our shirts and they were great to work with. We raised lots of money from selling them to the students, faculty and parents. We have used them two other times and they were absolutely professional and responsive. I even referred them over to a charity event a friend of mine was doing and she also, found them to be a great company to work with.
