Oregon schools warned of ‘school supply’ scam
A number of Oregon school districts have reported receiving requests for purchasing data that could be related to a suspected nationwide string of fraudulent billings from a company calling itself “Scholastic School Supply,” officials said Friday.
On Sept. 10, Scholastic Inc., the children’s publishing and media company, issued a statement saying that the two companies are unrelated and that Scholastic School Supply was using Scholastic’s name and trademark without authorization. Scholastic Inc. said Scholastic School Supply has been referred to multiple state attorneys general for investigation.
Districts in Utah and Kansas have reported receiving false invoices from Scholastic School Supply from Nevada addresses.
Ellen Klem, Director of Consumer Outreach and Education for the Oregon Department of Justice, said any district that suspects it has received a fraudulent invoice should call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or go to the department’s website at www.oregonconsumer.gov .
Friday’s alert came from the Oregon School Boards Association, a member services organization for more than 200 locally elected boards serving school districts, education service districts and community colleges. It also provides services to charter schools and their boards.
