LAT employees are getting the newspaper equivalent of prank pizza deliveries. People from an outfit called Express Business Services have allegedly been using the Times' 237 phone prefix to dial up newsroom folk at random, trick the person who answers the call into giving them his or her name and then using that name on order forms for toner.

Per an internal memo:

"After a couple of days, a representative from Express Business Services calls back to inquire about the shipment of toner and informs yet another employee that the person who originally 'ordered' the toner had agreed to several more shipments. They then get that employee's name and so more toner shipments arrive. When contacted by Los Angeles Times supervisors in order to return those shipments, Express Business Services claimed that the orders were authorized and that they have a strict NO return policy."

FBLA tried to call Express Business Services for a comment, but for whatever reason, every call we placed made our non-traceable cell phone start ringing. It's the damnedest thing.

Here's the whole memo:

October 12, 2006

Attention Times Employees:

Please be aware that there is a scam being perpetrated in the name of an unapproved supply vendor called "Express Business Services."

The scam operates in the following manner:

A representative from Express Business Services phones the 237 exchange and then adds various other digits until finally connecting with a randomly found Times employee. Express Business Services then claims to have just gotten off the line with someone at The Times who had ordered toner from them, but that they neglected to get that employee’s name. They then ask for the name of the employee that they are currently talking to and use that person’s name to address orders of toner.

After a couple of days, a representative from Express Business Services calls back to inquire about the shipment of toner and informs yet another employee that the person who originally "ordered" the toner had agreed to several more shipments. They then get that employee’s name and so more toner shipments arrive. When contacted by Los Angeles Times supervisors in order to return those shipments, Express Business Services claimed that the orders were authorized and that they have a strict NO return policy.

This matter is now in the hands of our legal department. Please be aware that The Times' exclusive vendor for office supplies, including toner, is OfficeMax. Please do not order supplies from any other company, speak with or accept any phone calls from Express Business Services, or give them the names of any other Times employees.