Businesses fall victim to invoice scam

Local companies are falling victim to a nationwide scam that use invoices to get money from businesses.

At Nature's Healing Day Spa, the owner was taken for $1,000.

\"What they'll do is they'll send you an invoice and say you owe us money and I was like wait I didn't do business with you.\"

Helen DePasquele didn't always do her own book-keeping, so the bill just got paid. The scammers even pretended to be a company she advertised with in the past, saying she owed money, but finally she caught on.

\"Like the company in Canada said they did online advertising with me, and is aid I don't do business in Canada.\"

President of Milwaukee's Better Business Bureau says DePasquale isn't alone. Hundreds of phony invoices are surfacing, claiming companies owe advertising money.

\"Small businesses have people doing two, three, or five jobs, so when they see an invoice they think, oh it must be real.\"

The BBB recommends one or two people do accounts payable, check companies with the bbb before paying, and use a purchase order system.

\"Actually issue purchase order numbers so when you get an invoice back for a payment you know it's based on a legitimate purchase order.\"

DePasquale says she's more careful and has a message for her scammers.

\"Watch out because you're going to get caught, and when you do I hope you go to jail.\"