Bills or invoices have been mailed to subscribers of the Enterprise-Record in Chico and Oroville Mercury-Register that are not from the newspapers, part of an ongoing scam happening across the nation. The scammers may target subscribers of the Record-Bee, as well.
There have been no reports from Record-Bee subscribers to date. Yet the problem is widespread.
State Attorney General Kamala Harris last week issued a consumer alert to Californians regarding a scam involving fake newspaper subscription mailings. Individuals throughout California have received deceptive mailings that claim to be bills, invoices or renewal notices for newspaper and magazine subscriptions. The mailings may appear to be legitimate renewal notices from a local newspaper, but they are most likely a scam and should be ignored and reported, Harris said.
Record-Bee renewal notices have a return address of P.O. Box 513590, Los Angeles, CA 90051-3590. The invoice directs one to call (707) 263-5636 “for all billing related questions.”
The fake notices come from companies with other names, such as Lake Shore Publishers Service and Magazine Billing Network, often with a return address of White City, Oregon. They also offer the chance to pay online at www.publisherspayment.com, which readers should not do.
Do not respond to mail offers from other companies seeking renewals or new subscriptions to the E-R, Mercury-Register or Paradise Post.
If you receive a fraudulent notice or have a question or concern about any renewal notice, please call our circulation department at 879-7888.
