ATA: scam letter targets trucking companies

The Trucker Staff

2/8/2008

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Trucking Associations has issued an alert to trucking companies concerning a phony letter being distributed under the guise of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

David F. Bartosic, director of Communications for the Ohio Trucking Association, notified the ATA that scam artists are targeting carriers “asking for financial information,” something that the DOT does not do.

Clayton W. Boyce, vice president of Public Affairs with the ATA, issued the alert after he was contacted about the letter by Bartosic.

The fictitious letter looks official under the heading of the “U.S. Department of Transportation Procurement Office” and bears the address “400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, DC, 20590,” along with the online address of www.dot.gov.

The letter is replete with spelling and grammatical errors. Its content, as written by the scam artists, follows:

“Dear Sirs,

“Our records show that you are currently registered as a prospective contractor for procurements issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation. However after reviewing your record we have noticed that you have not submitted your financial information release form.

“Your financial institution’s privacy policy may not allow it to release your financial information even to government institutions without your consent; therefore we must have such form on file before we can move on with any procurement decisions.

“In February 2008, the procurement plan for the second semester of 2008 will be finalized. To be eligible for procurement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, you must submit the abovemenetioned form to us by fax at 202-280-1404.

“Please make sure your fax is preceded by a cover page so we may correctly identify your company.

“Sincerely yours,

“Julie P. Weynel,

“Senior Procurement Officer”

Companies that receive such letters are urged to contact their state trucking association or the ATA. The ATA’s telephone number is (703) 838-7902.