Toner Pirates Are Back (Yes, This Is a Real Thing)

Every year, offices get hit by “toner dialer” scams — what we call Toner Pirates or Toner Phoners.

They sound professional.
They sound helpful.
They sound urgent.

Then a box of toner arrives that no one ordered, with an invoice attached that’s often 5–10x the normal price.

The worst part?
Many businesses already have toner included in their copier or Managed Print Service agreement—meaning they just paid hundreds of dollars for something that should’ve cost them $0.

“Most offices today already have a service agreement on their equipment — and a lot of people may not realize that toner is usually included.”
— Sam Stone, Stone’s Office Equipment

How the Toner Pirate Scam Actually Starts (Real Example)

These calls are strategic. They usually happen:

• During lunch, when the receptionist is out
• Late in the afternoon or evening
• When someone less familiar with purchasing answers the phone

Here’s what the call typically sounds like:

“Hi, I’m Rick with your copier company. Who is this?”
“Mary.”
“Hey Mary, can you confirm the model of your copier? We’re updating records and need to make sure we have the right info today.
Also, who normally orders toner for you?”

Once they have:

• A name
• Your copier model
• Who orders supplies

Toner gets shipped without approval — often addressed to either the person who answered the phone or the person who “normally orders supplies.” Now it looks legit. Now there’s a name on the box. Now there’s an invoice.

That’s the trap.

Red Flags: How to Spot Toner Pirates / Toner Phoners

🚩 They pretend to be your current provider
🚩 They create urgency (“we need this today”)
🚩 They use fear tactics (“tariffs are driving prices up tomorrow”)
🚩 They ship toner without a purchase order
🚩 The invoice is wildly higher than normal
🚩 They hide behind PO boxes and vague company names
🚩 The phone number is a generic or fake 800 number
🚩 You can’t easily verify who they are

If any of this shows up, pause. Real service doesn’t work this way.

🆚 Stone’s Office Equipment vs. Toner Pirates

(What Legit Service Looks Like — Side by Side)

Stone’s Office Equipment (Real Service)	Toner Pirates / Toner Phoners (Scams)
We already have your copier/printer model	Ask you to confirm model numbers
We already know your contacts	Ask who handles copiers and toner
Identify ourselves clearly	Use vague or misleading company names
“Hi, this is Michelle with Stone’s Office Equipment.”	“Hi, I’m Rick with your copier company…”
No pressure sales tactics	Create urgency and panic
No fear-based selling	“Prices go up tomorrow because of tariffs”
Toner follows your service agreement	Ship toner without approval
Transparent pricing	Invoices 5–10x normal cost
Local presence and accountability	PO boxes, boiler rooms, fake 800 numbers
We don’t sell toner by phone	They rely on phone deception

👉 If the call doesn’t sound like your real provider, it isn’t. If you’re unsure, always ask for the person’s name and their business name, and a callback number.

How to Prevent This in Your Office (Simple Rules That Save Money)

1. Centralize Ordering
One person or department handles supplies. Period.

2. Train the Front Desk
Give staff permission to say:

Best All-Around Script (Polite + Firm):

“I’m not the person who handles this, and I’m not comfortable sharing that information.
If you leave your name and number, I can pass it along to the right person.”

OR

Extra Warm (For super-helpful personalities):

“I don’t handle copier supplies and wouldn’t want to give you the wrong information.
If you leave your name and number, I’ll make sure the right person gets it.”

3. Don’t Accept Unsolicited Toner
If you didn’t order it, don’t open it. Refuse delivery when possible.

If the package is dropped off before you can refuse it — or it’s already been opened — don’t panic. Check the invoice for a phone number and call to request a return label. Let them know the toner was never ordered and needs to be returned.

If they push back or claim “someone in your office ordered this, and you’re required to pay,” that’s another red flag. Calmly let them know you’ll be filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for deceptive business practices.

In most cases, the pressure disappears quickly when accountability is introduced.

4. Verify Every Toner Invoice
Ask:

• Did we order this?
• Is toner already included in our service agreement?
• Is this vendor already approved?

Already Got Hit? You’re Not Alone.

These scams work because people are helpful — not careless.
They rely on timing, urgency, and normal office routines.

The fix isn’t the blame.
The fix is awareness.

Final Thought: Starve the Pirates

Toner Pirates only survive when people don’t talk about them.
Share this with your team.
Share it with accounting.
Share it with other business owners.

The more sunlight this gets, the fewer invoices get paid that never should’ve existed.