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Scammers target local businesses


Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce was recently notified by First State Bank of Uvalde and Southern Commodities regarding a scam against area businesses.

Hometown Productions/Universal Ad Com/UAC, has an address of 2921 Avenue E. East in Arlington. Phone numbers used include 800-788-6308 and 682-812-3768.

According to a memorandum released by the chamber, the business said they are representing a community map and/or community guide magnet product produced by the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau and/or the Uvalde Police Department, which would be printed by Quality Graphics.

“They may also be potentially trying to collect fabricated payments due on an advertisement for this product,” the memorandum said.

The scammers are utilizing a digital map publication on the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau’s website and contacting previous advertisers from that legitimate publication.

According to CVB executive director Debra Stifflemire, the CVB is working with the Uvalde Leader-News for upcoming maps, which would be produced every two years.

“If you are a past advertiser on the legitimate product from Richardson Publishing last year in 2018, please make sure you and your staff are aware they may have access to your business name, your name, and the design of your map advertisement, and they will use this information in their phone pitch in order to sound legitimate,” read the memorandum.

The company is also alleged to have targeted the area in December of 2018. At that time, the chamber contacted the Arlington Police Department economic crimes sergeant to report the scam, as well as reporting the scam to the Texas Attorney General.

If contacted by the business, the chamber recommends calling the chamber office at 830-278-3361, or filing a consumer complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s office at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint.

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Victoria Duhring

Victoria Duhring

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