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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Wolf travels hundreds of miles to northern Arizona Odd Fellows hopes to rebuild historic lodge as community center Get Up & Go: Nov. 22 Emergency services Public meetings for Nov. 24-28, 2014 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Monica pens letter to judge Woman says she was abducted while jogging on Johns Peak Road Portland woman struck by vehicle last week dies in hospital Emergency services Politics and Elections Buckley again named Ways and Means Committee co-chairman Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Granlund cartoon: GOP wrecking balls Ballot measures played little role in mobilizing voters in state Senate race 'Euphoria' over pot initiative Education Homelessness is growing problem for Medford students Les AuCoin recommended for SOU board Good news for SOU: Enrollment's up Mom gives school lobby a makeover Crater students present play about Thoreau's night in jail Environment Birders sought for bird counts Grow 'em before you plant 'em Since You Asked: Biomass One makes steam-generated power Organic squash creates a bountiful harvest for ACCESS Prospect-area cow death likely not a wolf kill State News Resent ballots, late results likely to trigger GMO recount Nike plans 1.3 million-square-foot headquarters expansion Federal report shows Coos Bay LNG terminal would be large carbon source Oregon GMO measure may be headed for recount Oregon immigrants, activists celebrate Obama plan Nation - World Obituaries Robert C. Roden Death Notices Tina Marie Williams Sandy Fay Julie Lynn Keller Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Mariota has four TDs, Ducks pound Buffaloes Granada clings to one-shot lead at LPGA finale Raiders advance to Iowa with sweep of Ozarks West Salem knocks off Grants Pass Blazing hot Varsity 541 College Sports Mariota has four TDs, Ducks pound Buffaloes Raiders advance to Iowa with sweep of Ozarks Oregon State slips past Oral Roberts No. 1 Kentucky shoots past Boston No. 25 Utah routs UC Riverside Pro Sports Granada clings to one-shot lead at LPGA finale Blazing hot Spartans save best for last Stenson leads McIlroy by 2 at European Tour finale Cousins, Gay lead Kings past Bulls Community Sports Results / Standings Business Latest Stories Blog: Wild Times in Southern Oregon Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda CR-V Christian's Pharmacy eyes weekend changeover Blog: Medford Center no longer a "forgotten child" Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Real Estate News Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Financial webinars offered for veterans and their families Home prices rise across Jackson County People In Business People in Business, Nov. 18 People in Business, Nov. 8 Transportation Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Erickson reports third quarter profit Lithia reports $34.5 million third-quarter profit Agriculture Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Opinion Latest Other Views: Legislators shbould avoid feel-good distractions Frank Mulligan: They say fame is fleeting Granlund cartoon: Buffalo snow Kent Bush: Obama challenges GOP on immigration Maddocks: Voters’ approval of voters falls to record low Editorials Other Views: Legislators shbould avoid feel-good distractions Our View: Signs of controversy Our view: Richardson got the coverage, not the win Court ruling may envelop Cover Oregon Our View: Kicking the can down the road Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Nov. 21 Letters to the editor Letters to the editor, Nov. 19 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 18 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 17 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: County voters rebuffed judicial appointment process Fix health care reform, don't scrap it Reflections on the election in Oregon and beyond Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Lifestyle Latest stories JPEG Moments FISHING REPORT: Friday, Nov. 21 Barry Lewis: No purchasing poinsettias before the Pilgrims and the parade County resident no longer at risk for Ebola Bolt Mountain short but sweet Food Community blog: Finish off Thursday's feast on a lighter note Corn pudding like a ray of sunshine Keep it simple with Thanksgiving wines Homes for the holidays Community blog: Bourbon-bacon pie crust perfect with pumpkin Home and Garden Mortgage insurance: Your questions answered Home Help: Spruce up your home with quick DIY painting projects Beyond curb appeal: When it pays to stand out Use the hidden meaning of color to enhance your home 17 things you never knew about turkeys Health County resident no longer at risk for Ebola Health Watch: Holidays can trigger allergy attacks Dr. Jeff Hersh: Tackling Ebola and flu concerns Dr. Murray Feingold: Is there a good time to get sick? Community blog: Gratitude Expressed Through Giving To Others Aids Health Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Local farmers need more products in grocery stores Ashland honey festival draws swarm of visitors Fundraiser to benefit Medford Senior Center New Arrivals The meaning behind Veterans Day Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults The Bohemian Club A new guitar slinger in town Clayfolk Show set for this weekend at Medford Armory Caleb Klauder Band and The Steel Wheels play the Unitarian Fellowship Theater New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre 'Red Noses' a romp through slapstick and pathos SOU presents 'The Drunken City' The power of human spirit Music A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love The Farr Side: Different artists, common songs Caleb Klauder Band and The Steel Wheels play the Unitarian Fellowship Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon to perform two shows Community Events New exhibits highlight Third Fridays Clayfolk Show set for this weekend at Medford Armory Review: Randall Theatre's 'Secret Garden' still enchanting Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Dining The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Blue Toba is a cultural experience Back Porch Bar & Grill Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Wolf travels hundreds of miles to northern Arizona ... Resent ballots, late results likely to trigger GMO recount ... New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults ... Wolf travels hundreds of miles to northern Arizona ... Resent ballots, late results likely to trigger GMO recount ... New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults ... STATE INVESTIGATION White City firm probed for alleged 'scam' Newspaper subscribers across the country targeted By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 16, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 16, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News A “staggering” number of complaints against a White City company have triggered an “F” rating by the Better Business Bureau and an investigation by the Oregon Attorney General over an alleged scam in which consumers receive inflated bills for newspaper and magazine subscriptions. The Oregon Attorney General’s office has received at least 595 complaints involving various White City companies, known by more than 40 different names including Publishers Payment Processing, Publishers Billing Association, Readers Payment Service or Liberty Publishers Service. Multiple addresses for the businesses are listed, mostly in White City or Medford, but they are post office boxes or mail services. Liberty Publishers president is Linda Lovrien, a 37-year-old Eagle Point woman, according to the Oregon Secretary of State. The Better Business Bureau, which represents Alaska, western Washington and Oregon, has received 863 complaints from across the nation over the last three years, with 266 in the last 12 months alone. “The numbers are staggering,” said Sophie Dichter, public relations manager for the Better Business Bureau in Oregon. “They have received an ‘F’ rating from us.” Some of the publications affected include the Dallas Morning News, San Antonio Express, Houston Chronicle, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and People magazine, Dichter said. However no publications in Oregon appear to have been affected, she said. The Better Business Bureau has received a pattern of complaints from consumers who allege they receive bills from one of the companies for subscriptions, implying it is time for renewal. However consumers claim the subscriptions haven’t expired, nor did they originally order the subscription through this company. Complaints refer to the invoices as a “scam” or a “fraud.” Dichter said the companies operate in a legal gray area, which makes prosecution difficult. The companies send out notices asking for payment for a subscription, but in many cases tack a 20 percent or more processing fee onto the bill. Once the companies receive payment, they pay the subscription and pocket the fee. Another problem is the sheer number of businesses involved, though they all appear to be run out of the White City area, Dichter said. Another problem is confirming all the complaints. “We rarely see that many complaints for one company,” Dichter The Better Business Bureau has attempted to contact the company but has received no response. The Mail Tribune didn’t receive a call back from Lovrien or her business after repeated attempts. Kristina Edmunson, communications director with the Oregon Attorney General, said, “This is still a pending investigation, so I am not able to comment on much at this point.” Most of the complaints filed with her office indicate consumers believe they have received false or misleading invoices, failed to give refunds or failed to provide the services. Newspapers across the country have alerted their readers not to pay these invoices because they are in no way affiliated with the White City companies. The Billings Gazette in Billings, Mont., featured an article on Oct. 31, titled “Scams hit newspapers, Gazette subscriber.” Customers received a bill in the mail that looked almost identical to the Gazette bill. However, the Gazette didn’t provide a list of customers’ names to the Publishers Service Exchange and alerted its subscribers. The Arizona Republic wrote an article on Oct. 10 about Readers Payment Service sending out annual subscription notices for $469.94, about 20 percent higher than the actual cost. The paper received 60 complaints during one day earlier in October and informed its readers to cancel checks or dispute charges with banks or credit-card companies. Eric Buskirk, publisher of The Valley Chronicle in Hemet, Calif., said he became aware of the scam when an elderly couple came into his office a few days ago. They said they’d paid the $19 subscription fee, so they wanted to know why they’re getting a bill for $90. Buskirk forwarded the issue to the California Newspaper Publishers Association and to the California Attorney General’s office. In the upcoming edition of the Chronicle weekly, Buskirk plans to run a house ad and an article alerting readers. He said he was surprised to see the company that sent out the invoice to the elderly couple was located in White City and said it’s important to get the word out about this issue. “Part of the scam these people are involved with, which is not just about skimming part of the bill, is that they’re trying to sell leads to other companies,” he said. “Once they determine that someone is gullible, they sell the lead to con artists.” Ed Rose, operations director for the circulation department at the Mail Tribune, said he wondered if some newspapers that had been affected were using outside vendors to increase subscriptions, a practice he stopped about 10 years ago. Rose said he was uncomfortable with the idea of outside groups accessing subscriber information. “There are no reports of these shysters meddling with our customers,” Rose said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm. By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 16, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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