The Pidcock scam has resurfaced, but Jennifer Johnson sniffed out the scheme before getting conned.

And now, she and the rest of the team at Rimco Marketing Products (asi/309022) want to warn distributors and suppliers to be leery so they don’t fall prey to crooks.

Johnson, who’s an account executive/fulfillment manager at Rimco, tells ASI Media that a con artist posing as Michael Pidcock, a real purchasing manager at Ohio University, contacted the Orlando, FL-based promo distributorship with a request for 7,000 OU-branded flash drives.

Sadly, scammers have latched onto Pidcock’s identity and targeted distributors with requests for products for which they will never pay – a con that’s played out numerous times over the course of at least two years. The real Michael Pidcock isn’t involved. Some distributors have been duped, resulting in financial losses.

In the latest case, the scammer contacted Rimco via web portal with the request for the flash drives. Johnson spotted red flags that made her suspect the order might be a swindle attempt.

“I don’t want others to go through what we did.” A #promoproducts distributor that was recently the victim of a scam -- to the tune of more than $60K -- shares lessons learned. https://t.co/coVmrf2e9g @asicentral @ASI_MBell

— Chris Ruvo (@ChrisR_ASI) September 28, 2022

For instance, the email address wasn’t right; it ended in a “edu.org” instead of the customary “.edu” expected for an educational institution, Johnson shares. The address was different than the real Pidcock’s email. The fake buyer wanted net 30 terms; Rimco doesn’t typically offer that for new customers.

While a purchase order was submitted, it looked fishy and the logo on it was blurry – off-putting. Furthermore, the inquirer wanted the goods shipped to a warehouse in Columbus, OH; Ohio University is located in Athens, OH – approximately 80 miles southeast from Columbus.

“None of it sat right with me,” says Johnson. “I thought, ‘This just isn’t good.’”

Folks, even if you're very seasoned at spotting scams, these criminals are getting more organized and strategic. Get the details on recent cons aimed at #promoproducts firms so you can ensure you won't get schemed. https://t.co/dZEpIfW3Gf

— Chris Ruvo (@ChrisR_ASI) September 23, 2022

And so, she started poking around online. Johnson found several past articles from ASI Media that detailed scams in which criminals posed as Pidcock. Through inquiries, Johnson learned the real Pidcock was actually on vacation and not making purchase requests. Given all the evidence, Rimco was convinced – rightly so – that the supposed order request was a con. The firm didn’t fulfill the order and is not out any money.

“Both suppliers and distributors need to know that this is out there and happening,” says Johnson. “We need to work together to protect our businesses against these people. It’s sad that this is the world we live in, but we have to deal with it.”

While requests for large quantities of blank products in the past were a tip-off that an order could be bogus, scammers have taken to asking for branded items in an apparent attempt to lend their approaches a greater veneer of validity. “It’s not hard for them to wipe off the imprints if they want to do that,” says Johnson. It’s believed that products procured by crookery are resold on the black market.

As happened in the Rimco scenario, the scammers are smart enough, in cases, to submit credit applications and purchase orders made to look legitimate in an effort to trick distributors.

Drinkware and certain tech items, including speakers and flash drives, have been among the more common product requests from the scammers. In February 2023, a New England-based distributorship received a request for 12,000 double-insulated 21-oz. tumblers from the fake “Pidcock.” The distributor spotted the scam.