Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake in late September warned its employees, customers and other consumers about a business financing scam that had appropriated the companies’ identities. The companies say they first learned about the fraudulent activity on Sept. 23 when consumers began calling their headquarters to inquire about letters and, more specifically, checks they had received that were marked with the names and logos of both Bendix CVS and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, a Bendix joint venture with Dana Commercial Vehicle Products.
According to the companies, consumers received letters and fake checks that claimed they had received a significant sum in accordance with their recent business financing request; while the Bendix name was not used in the letter, a fraudulent Bendix check was enclosed with the mailing.
Bendix says it reported the fraud to the appropriate federal, state and local legal authorities, and that the number of consumers who received the letters is unknown; however, recipients were not limited to those in the commercial vehicle industry in which the companies do business. The fraudulent checks displayed the “Mellon Bank” name, and letters printed on fake letterhead for “Mike Zack Finance, Inc.” – a company that does not exist – accompanied the checks.
Bendix advises recipients of the fraudulent mailing to follow these guidelines:
• Do not call the numbers provided in the letter;
• Do not attempt to cash the fraudulent checks;
• Alert local authorities about receiving the fraudulent mailing; and
• Send copies of the fraudulent documents to Bendix Legal Department, c/o Bendix Commercial Vehicles Systems LLC, 901 Cleveland St., Elyria, OH 44035.
