The ABT Breakdown

Navigating the world of copier supplies can feel like sailing into uncharted waters—especially when unexpected “toner pirates” surface on the horizon.

These shady characters call you out of the blue, claim to be your partner, and then try to steer you toward overpriced or non‑authorized toner, sometimes even hinting they’re affiliated with your trusted vendor. At ABT we’ve heard reports from Colorado businesses of a company named Pacific Imaging LLC (apparently boasting a stellar “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau) making calls, using blocked numbers, and misrepresenting their affiliation.

In this blog we’ll walk you through how to spot these deceptive offers, protect your business, and ensure you’re working with trusted suppliers—plus how you can always source legitimate toner and ink from us, whether you’re under contract or not.

Navigating the Choppy Waters of Toner Pirates: A Guide for Your Business

Your office machines hum day‑in and day‑out, printing proposal decks, invoices, shipping labels, contracts and more. When they run low on toner or ink, someone calls your vendor—or so you think—and a “friendly” rep shows up with cartridges in hand. But what if they’re not actually your vendor?

Enter the toner pirates: companies that swoop in, often using blocked numbers or impersonating your trusted partner, overcharging you or installing inferior supplies. Here’s what to watch for—and what you can do.

1. The Red Flags That Should Set Off Alarms

You might think, “I trust this call, they know our machine model, they referenced our vendor name.” That’s exactly what makes this tactic dangerous. Here are the signs:

Use of block or “unknown” number: If the call originates from a hidden or blocked line, that’s an immediate red flag. Legitimate vendors use direct, traceable lines.
Claims of affiliation: The caller may say they’re working with your copier vendor, “used to handle your account”, or “authorized partner”. But when you check with your actual vendor, you’re told they’ve never heard of them.
High‑pressure tactics: “This deal’s only good today,” “Your machine is overdue,” or “We have the cartridges on the truck now”—these are classic pressure moves.
Strange billing or shipping address: You’ll notice odd addresses, PO boxes, or mismatched vendor names.
One‑star reviews, yet a lofty rating: For example the company Pacific Imaging LLC has a slew of one‑star reviews about deceptive calls, yet the BBB still lists an A+ rating. That mismatch should make you pause.

2. Why the BBB Rating Can Be Misleading

You might assume a company with an A+ rating at the Better Business Bureau must be trustworthy—but that’s not always reality. Here’s what we’ve observed:

A company called Pacific Imaging LLC has nearly all one‑star reviews complaining about persistent cold calls, mis‑representations, and aggressive upselling.
Yet the BBB shows them as A+. That discrepancy means you need to dig deeper than just seeing the letter grade.
When businesses rely solely on the “A+” badge, they become vulnerable. Your best defense is to verify the interaction—through a known contact at your vendor, your own account rep, or by direct email verification.

3. Why This Matters for Color & Mono Copier Machines

Whether you have machines from Canon, HP, Epson, Kyocera or Xerox, Roland, toners and inks are critical for performance. Using the wrong supplies can lead to:

Print quality issues: streaking, uneven output, ghosting.
Potential machine damage or voided warranties.
Hidden costs: frequent reprints, maintenance calls, downtime.

When a “toner pirate” offers you ink or toner at a suspiciously low price, it might feel like a bargain—but your business could pay more in the long run.

4. How to Verify a Legitimate Call from Us

Here at ABT are the steps you should take if you receive a call and aren’t 100 % sure it’s from us:

Don’t give account or machine details over the phone—instead, ask for the caller’s name, company, and extension.
Say: “I’ll ask our account representative to confirm and we’ll schedule accordingly.” If they pressure you instead, that’s a red flag.
Reach out directly to Paige at paige@yourabt.com (she’s your dedicated liaison for supplies) or contact your account rep.
If you’re still unsure, call ABT’s main line (303) 778-0600 or (719) 434-4080 and ask to verify the person who called you.
When in doubt, order supplies the safe way: log in at https://supplies.yourabt.com/ and select your machine model.

5. What to Do If You’ve Already Been Contacted

If you suspect someone from Pacific Imaging LLC or another firm misrepresented themselves:

Review any documentation or invoices you received. Look for unfamiliar company names, PO boxes, or contracts you didn’t authorize.
Contact your ABT account rep right away—let us know the details and we’ll help you assess whether anything was signed incorrectly.
Report the call in your internal vendor‑verification process. Train staff to hang up cold calls or redirect them to your vendor hotline.
Alert others in your organization—especially those in procurement, facilities, or IT who field copier‑related calls.

6. Why We Offer Supplies for Machines Not on Contract

You might think you have to be under a full copier/print services contract to get legit supplies—but we make it easy because your business deserves flexibility. At ABT:

Even if your machine isn’t covered under a service contract, you’re still welcome to order genuine toner and ink through us.
Simply reach out to Paige at paige@yourabt.com and she’ll assist you with the correct part numbers, pricing, and shipping.
Or go straight to https://supplies.yourabt.com/ for a seamless online ordering experience.
That way you don’t have to engage with unauthorized callers, and you retain traceability: all orders go through ABT, with your account rep and history tied in.

7. Insider Tips to Fortify Your Business Against Toner Scams

Here are some additional best practices to safeguard your organization:

Create a list of approved vendors and contact numbers: include your ABT rep’s direct line, front‑desk verification number, and the supplies ordering portal.
Train your staff: especially those in reception, slicing calls who say they’re “from your copier vendor.” If they ask for urgency or machine credentials, treat it as suspicious.
Lock in your machine model numbers and approved part numbers: if a caller says “I have the cartridge for your machine” and you don’t have that machine model listed, ask them to send the SKU and have your vendor confirm.
Document all calls and cold outreach: even if you hang up, record date, time, number (if displayed), and a short summary—helps identify recurring problematic numbers.
Never sign a service agreement or contract without ABT’s review: unless it’s clearly from ABT and reviewed by your procurement team. Rogue vendors may try inserting hidden juice.
Refuse blind servicing: if someone shows up at your site claiming to be “pre‑authorized” but you never scheduled them, don’t let them service your machine. They might install lower‑quality supplies, then charge you or your machine might malfunction.

8. Keeping Your Supplies Program Transparent

Running a copier/print environment means staying on top of parts, supplies, invoices and performance. At ABT we help you by:

Offering you access to an online supplies portal so you see exactly what’s being ordered for each machine.
Providing tracking of prints, toner usage, and supply logs—so you have accountability.
Ensuring the items we ship are compatible, genuine, and backed by vendor warranties.
Letting you order even if you’re outside a contract—so you don’t need to rely on unknown callers offering “better deals.”

9. Why the “Toner Pirates” Exist (And How They Operate)

Understanding their playbook helps you stay one step ahead. The modus operandi often goes like this:

They scrape public data (or networks) to identify businesses with copier fleets.
They call using blocked numbers, sound urgent, claim they’re “your current vendor” or “authorized partner”.
They may offer extremely competitive pricing to lure you, then upsell other hidden services or substitutions.
Their invoices may look official—only to lead to poor quality supplies or unrecognized billing.
Some customers realize later their machine warranty or service contract was compromised because the wrong toners were used.

10. Final Thoughts & Your Next Steps

Your business deserves clarity, reliability, and trust when it comes to copier supplies. With the rise of deceptive callers and toner pirates, you must fine‑tune your guardrails. Here’s your next‑step checklist:

Save Paige’s email (paige@yourabt.com) and your ABT account rep’s direct phone line in your vendor contact sheet.
Bookmark https://supplies.yourabt.com/ as your go‑to for authentic toner/ink ordering.
Communicate to your internal team: if a caller claims to be from ABT and you’re unsure—hang up, verify, and then proceed.
Educate your colleagues: copier supply scams aren’t just a tech issue—they’re a risk to your workflow, budget and prints.
Keep transactions transparent, documented and tied to your approved vendor list.

By keeping these strategies in place, you’ll be much more prepared to keep your print environment safe and smooth—and less vulnerable to pirate tactics. And remember: when you’re looking for genuine supplies, accurate pricing, and a vendor you can trust, ABT is here for you.

If you want to place an order for toner or ink (contracted or non‑contracted machine) or simply want to confirm someone calling you is legitimate—reach out to Paige at paige@yourabt.com. The supplies portal is ready for you: https://supplies.yourabt.com/.

The Takeaway
If you ever receive a cold call that sounds like it’s coming from ABT and you’re unsure, pause, take a breath—and give Paige a direct email at paige@yourabt.com or your dedicated ABT account representative a call. Or simply contact the front desk at ABT. When you’re ready to order toners and inks the right way, head to https://supplies.yourabt.com/ to place your order.

Avoid Toner Pirate Scams | Trust ABT for Genuine Supplies