A local food manufacturer says it was the victim of a costly fraud scheme involving a massive order of pork rinds.
According to the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, representatives from Evans Food Group LTD contacted deputies after discovering a fraudulent order totaling $43,985.88 had been processed and shipped.
The company later learned the order had been sent to an address in the Bronx, New York that was not actually connected to the business the suspects claimed to represent.
Evans Food Group operates a manufacturing facility in Portsmouth that produces pork rinds. The company also received a JobsOhio tax credit in 2022 to expand the plant’s operations into tortilla chip manufacturing.
Deputies took information for a report and the incident remains under investigation.
How Businesses Can Protect Themselves from Order Fraud
Fraudulent bulk orders have become a growing problem for manufacturers and distributors.
Scammers often pose as legitimate companies, place large orders, and have the goods shipped to temporary or unrelated addresses before disappearing.
Businesses can reduce the risk by:
- Verifying new customers before processing large orders
- Confirming shipping addresses with the legitimate company being represented
- Watching for rushed orders or requests for quick shipment
- Requiring secure payment methods before shipping expensive products
- Checking business registration records for unfamiliar buyers
A few extra verification steps can help prevent thousands of dollars in losses.
SCDN will continue tracking fraud cases and scams affecting businesses across Scioto County.