Toner Pirates Are Targeting Colorado Businesses — Here’s How to Spot Them and Shut Them Down
By Wendy Campbell, Director of Marketing | ABT | Updated 2026 | 7-minute read
In This Guide:
- What Is a Toner Pirate?
- Red Flags to Watch For
- Why BBB Ratings Can Be Misleading
- How to Verify a Legitimate Call from ABT
- What to Do If You’ve Already Been Contacted
- Why the Wrong Supplies Cost More Than You Think
- 7 Ways to Protect Your Organization
- The Safe Way to Order Toner & Ink from ABT
- Frequently Asked Questions
If your office manages copiers, printers, or MFPs, your team has likely already received one of these calls: someone who sounds like they know your equipment, references your vendor by name, and offers a deal on toner or ink. The problem? They’re not your vendor. Toner pirates — companies that impersonate authorized dealers to sell overpriced or non-genuine supplies — are actively targeting Colorado businesses. This guide will help you recognize the tactics, protect your team, and make sure every supply order comes from a source you can trust.
Already need supplies? Skip the cold calls entirely. Order genuine toner and ink directly through ABT’s secure supplies portal: supplies.yourabt.com → [UNVERIFIED — confirm live before publishing]
What Is a Toner Pirate?
Quick Answer: A toner pirate is a fraudulent company that cold-calls businesses, impersonates authorized copier dealers or current vendors, and attempts to sell overpriced, counterfeit, or non-authorized toner and ink supplies — often using high-pressure tactics and blocked phone numbers.
The term has been around for decades, but the tactics have gotten more sophisticated. Today’s toner pirates research your business before calling. They may know your machine model, reference your current vendor by name, or claim to be handling your account while your “regular rep” is unavailable. The goal is to get you to place an order — or sign something — before you think to verify who you’re actually talking to.
At ABT, we’ve heard from Colorado businesses who were contacted by a company called Pacific Imaging LLC — a Las Vegas-based firm that reportedly uses blocked numbers and claims affiliation with local vendors. We want our customers and the broader Colorado business community to know exactly what to watch for.
For more background on how these scams work, see our earlier coverage: Toner Pirates: Business Tips with Brad and What Are Toner Pirates? Business Survival Tips. [Both URLs UNVERIFIED — confirm live before publishing]
Red Flags That Should Stop You Cold
The reason these calls work is that they’re designed to sound familiar. Here’s what to look for — and why each one matters:
| Red Flag | Why It Matters |
| Blocked or “Unknown” number | Legitimate vendors use traceable, direct lines. A blocked number is an immediate signal that the caller doesn’t want to be identified. |
| Claims of vendor affiliation | “I work with your copier vendor,” “I used to handle your account,” or “we’re an authorized partner” — none of these are verifiable on the phone. Always confirm with your actual rep before taking any action. |
| High-pressure urgency | “This price is only good today,” “Your machine is overdue for supplies,” or “We have the cartridges on the truck” — urgency is a manufactured tactic designed to prevent you from pausing to verify. |
| Strange billing or shipping details | PO boxes, unfamiliar company names on invoices, or addresses that don’t match your vendor’s known locations are all signals that something is off. |
| A+ rating with one-star reviews | Pacific Imaging LLC has an A+ BBB rating but a flood of one-star reviews about deceptive cold calls and misrepresentation. A letter grade alone tells you very little — read the actual reviews. |
Why a BBB “A+” Rating Isn’t the Whole Story
Many business owners assume that a Better Business Bureau A+ rating means a company is trustworthy. In most cases that’s a reasonable shortcut — but it’s not a guarantee. The BBB rating system measures complaint resolution and responsiveness, not whether a company’s sales tactics are ethical.
Pacific Imaging LLC [UNVERIFIED — BBB profiles can move; confirm URL before publishing] is a documented example of this gap. Their BBB profile shows an A+ rating, but their customer reviews tell a very different story: persistent cold calls, false claims of vendor affiliation, and aggressive upselling. The rating and the reviews are not in conflict — they’re measuring different things.
The takeaway: don’t let a rating badge substitute for direct verification with your actual vendor. One phone call to your ABT account rep confirms everything a BBB rating cannot.
How to Verify a Call That Claims to Be from ABT
ABT will never cold-call you from a blocked number, create urgency around a supply order, or pressure you to place an order before you’ve had a chance to verify. If you receive a call and aren’t 100% sure it’s from us, here’s exactly what to do:
| 1 | Don’t give account or machine details over the phone. Ask for the caller’s full name, company name, and a direct callback number. |
| 2 | Tell them: “I’ll confirm with our account rep and schedule from there.” A legitimate vendor will have no problem with this. A toner pirate will push back. |
| 3 | Email Paige at paige@yourabt.com — she’s ABT’s dedicated supplies liaison and can confirm whether any outreach was legitimate. |
| 4 | Or call ABT directly: 303-778-0600 (Denver) or 719-434-4080 (Colorado Springs) and ask us to verify the caller’s identity. |
| 5 | When in doubt, order the safe way: log in to supplies.yourabt.com [UNVERIFIED — confirm live] and select your machine model. No phone call required. |
Not sure if someone calling you is actually ABT?
Email Paige directly at paige@yourabt.com and she’ll confirm within one business day. Takes 30 seconds. Saves a lot of headaches.
What to Do If You’ve Already Been Contacted
If you suspect a toner pirate has already reached your team — or if you’ve placed an order you’re now questioning — here’s how to respond:
- Review any documentation or invoices you received. Look for unfamiliar company names, PO boxes, or any contract language you didn’t explicitly authorize. Even a verbal “yes” can sometimes be used to legitimize a fraudulent order.
- Contact your ABT account rep right away. Let us know what happened and we’ll help you assess whether anything was signed or committed to in error. The sooner you catch it, the easier it is to address.
- Log the call in your internal records. Date, time, caller name (if given), number displayed, and a brief summary. This documentation is useful if the calls continue or escalate.
- Alert your colleagues. Anyone in procurement, facilities, or office administration who fields vendor calls should know this is happening. One conversation with your team can prevent a lot of future problems.
- Train reception to redirect, not engage. The most effective response to a suspicious call is: “I’ll need to verify that with our account rep — can I get your direct number?” Most toner pirates won’t give one.
Why the Wrong Supplies Cost More Than You Think
A low price on toner sounds like a win until you factor in what can go wrong. Whether your fleet includes machines from Canon, HP ⚠[confirm param — documented HP param is ?z=101772-19336820], Epson, Kyocera ⚠[confirm param — documented Kyocera param is ?z=100320-19938], Xerox, or Roland, using non-genuine or unauthorized supplies can lead to real downstream costs. [All supplies URLs UNVERIFIED — verify params before publishing; see header notes]
Learn more about genuine toner and ink supplies for Colorado businesses. [UNVERIFIED — confirm slug is live]
| The Problem | The Real Cost |
| Print quality issues | Streaking, ghosting, uneven output — reprints waste time, paper, and the very toner you thought you were saving money on. |
| Voided warranty or service contract | Most manufacturer service contracts require genuine supplies. Installing non-authorized toner can void your coverage — leaving you responsible for the next repair bill. |
| Machine damage | Non-genuine toner is not engineered to the same tolerances as OEM supplies. Fuser damage, drum wear, and feed issues are all documented consequences. |
| Unplanned downtime | A machine that goes down mid-project doesn’t just cost the repair call — it costs the productivity of everyone waiting on output. The “cheap” cartridge rarely looks cheap after a service visit. |
7 Ways to Protect Your Organization from Toner Scams
These are the practical steps that make a real difference. None of them require new software or significant time — just clear policies your team can follow consistently.
| 1 | Build an approved vendor list. Document your ABT account rep’s direct line, Paige’s email, and the supplies portal URL. Post it near the printers or in your shared vendor directory. When someone calls claiming to be your vendor, the list tells you exactly who to call to verify. |
| 2 | Train reception and office staff. Anyone who answers phones should know: if a caller claims to be from your copier vendor and asks for machine details or tries to place an order, redirect them — don’t engage. “I’ll have our account rep verify and follow up” is the only response needed. |
| 3 | Lock in your approved part numbers. Keep a reference sheet with your machine models and the corresponding OEM part numbers for toner and ink. If a caller says “I have the cartridge for your machine” and the SKU doesn’t match, that’s your answer. |
| 4 | Log every suspicious call. Date, time, number displayed (even if blocked), caller name if given, and a quick summary. Over time this creates a paper trail — useful if a pattern emerges or if you ever need to file a complaint. |
| 5 | Never sign a service agreement without review. If anyone — even someone who sounds completely legitimate — presents paperwork during a supply call, it goes to your procurement team and your ABT rep before any signature. No exceptions. |
| 6 | Refuse unscheduled on-site visits. If someone shows up claiming to be “pre-authorized” for a supply delivery or machine service and you have no record of scheduling them, do not allow access. Call your ABT rep to verify before anyone touches your equipment. |
| 7 | Use the portal, not the phone. The simplest protection is bypassing the phone entirely. Every order placed through supplies.yourabt.com [UNVERIFIED] is traceable, tied to your account, and fulfilled by ABT — no verification required because you’re already in the right place. |
The Safe Way to Order Toner & Ink from ABT
One of the things we hear most often after a toner pirate incident is: “I didn’t know I could just order directly.” You can — and it’s straightforward, whether or not your machine is under a managed print services contract. [UNVERIFIED — confirm slug live]
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If you’re under contract Your toner and ink are typically included or managed as part of your service agreement. Contact Paige at paige@yourabt.com with your machine model and she’ll handle it — or log into the portal and select your machine. |
If you’re NOT under contract You’re still welcome to order genuine supplies through ABT. You don’t need a service agreement to buy from us. Reach out to Paige or go directly to supplies.yourabt.com [UNVERIFIED] and find your machine model. |
Every order placed through ABT is tied to your account history, backed by manufacturer warranties, and fulfilled with genuine OEM supplies. That traceability is exactly what protects you — and exactly what a toner pirate can never offer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Toner Pirates
The Bottom Line
Toner pirates are persistent, they’re professional, and they’re targeting Colorado businesses right now. The good news is that the defense is straightforward: verify before you act, use a trusted ordering channel, and make sure your team knows the difference between a cold call and a call from a vendor you’ve actually worked with.
ABT has been serving Colorado businesses since 2005. We’re not a call center — we’re a local team with offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Westminster, and account reps your team can actually reach. When something doesn’t seem right, call us. That’s what we’re here for.
Ready to order supplies the right way — or just want to verify a call?
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Order Genuine Supplies Find your machine, select your supplies, done. [UNVERIFIED — confirm live before publishing] |
Verify a Call or Get Help Email Paige or call your ABT location directly. |
ABT Front Range Offices:
Denver/Centennial: 11999 E. Caley Ave Suite A | 303-778-0600
Colorado Springs: 1047 Elkton Drive | 719-434-4080
Westminster/NoCO: 12000 N. Pecos St., Suite 330 | 720-389-2460
Wendy Campbell is Director of Marketing at Automated Business Technologies (ABT), a Colorado-owned B2B technology company serving the Front Range since 2005. ABT is an authorized dealer for Canon, HP, Kyocera, Epson, Xerox, Fujifilm, Roland, and Verkada.