Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

United Safety Standard Scam - How to Protect Yourself
United Safety Standard Scam - How to Protect Yourself

"United Safety Standard" (also operating as "U.S. Safety Standard") is a documented fake invoice and phishing scam targeting businesses, construction outfits, and healthcare clinics. According to numerous reports filed on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker and SCD Information Technology, the operation relies on a deceptive B2B marketing trick called an unordered materials scam.

How the Scam Works

  • The Fake Bill: Your accounts payable or office staff receives a hard-copy mailer or email that strongly resembles an official invoice.
  • The Items: It demands payment—usually ranging from $995 to $1,299.50—for boxes of "nitrile rubber gloves" or general safety equipment that your company never ordered.
  • Massive Markup: The prices are heavily inflated, sometimes charging up to $129 per box for safety gear that normally retails for under $20.
  • The Fine Print: The text "not an invoice" or "order form solicitation" is intentionally printed in microscopic text to bypass legal trouble while tricking busy employees into making a payment.
  • Dead-End Support: The phone numbers provided on the notices connect to an automated message instructing you to use email, or lead to a perpetually full voicemail box.

What You Should Do

  1. Do Not Pay: Treat the document as deceptive solicitation material. Do not submit checks or credit card info.
  2. Warn Your Office: Flag the name "United Safety Standard" or "U.S. Safety Standard" to your accounts payable department and warehouse managers so it is not processed blindly.
  3. Verify the Details: Check the document for a standard Purchase Order (PO) number or the specific name of an authorized buyer in your office. This scam never includes them.
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