By Shari Phiel
Berthoud Recorder

A local business owner is urging others in the area to be aware of a potential scam involving National Online Pages and deceptive billing practices.

Initially contacted by the interactive online business directory to “verify” their contact information, they soon received an invoice for nearly $500. Upon contacting the Internet company about the invoice, the business owner was told they had been enrolled in an advertising program and could cancel the service but the cancellation fee would be nearly half of the original invoice amount.

Several other similar incidents with National Online Pages have been reported across the county, and complaints have been filed with several local Better Business Bureau offices. If you suspect you have been contacted by a listing service with this scam, call the Loveland BBB at (970) 484-1348.