Thank you Traci for your research. I found the same. In the chat my questions were also stated to be "best addressed to the marketing department".
Note they are also tracking the IP addresses of anyone use visits their site, however they are not very good at knowing how to use the IP address as an identifier.
Perhaps their service is of some value to government purchasing.
Using the phoney fax with the federally looking logo and deceptive language doesn't make me want to do business with them.
They claim they are advocates for transparency and open information. Would they like their own deceptive practices to highlighted by the same media outlets that have mentioned them so far?

So let me summarize what Traci uncovered for those of you who don't have time to read it all.

1. I bet Office of Purchase Order Notifications is really SmartProcure or some sort of close relationship because they are referred to as the "marketing department" several times by it's online chat representative. I bet they are one in the same.

2. They have our public contracting data in some sort of a search engine that shows us our competitor's pricing in detail and government agencies that buy what we sell.

3. They say a competitor or government agency looked at your data recently but won't tell you who. I suspect it's because it's a marketing ploy to get you interested in their website.

4. You can ask to be removed from their fax list and they say they will make sure you get removed.

It's a Sales Gimic that makes you think your sales data has been compromised.
They are trying to get you to purchase into their Procurement Databases.

They have no way of knowing what online databases you are part of, or if someone tried to access them, but knowing how big electronic transmissions are now makes the technologically naive person vulnerable to these types of gimics. I'm now going to post my conversation with one of the reps from this company, which is Smart Procure LLC.



Now online: Leave a question or comment and our agents will try to attend to you shortly =)

SmartProcure

Hi. Welcome to SmartProcure. Can I answer any questions for you?


You (click to change)

Yes I'm following up on a fax I got
You are currently being served by
Dimitri

Dimitri

Hi! My name is Dimitri and I'm a Live Agent. Can I answer any questions?


You (click to change)

I'm confused about what this is all about?


Dimitri

We collect all of the data from Purchase Orders issued by local, state, and federal agencies. Our system allows you to know exactly which government agencies are purchasing your product/service, and which agencies your competitors are working with & what they are charging. It's amazing tool....not available from any other service.


You (click to change)

How are you able to get all that information?


Dimitri

Through a variety of data sources for the Federal, but for the State and Local the data comes directly from the agencies.

This database was actually created for government agencies a little over 2 years ago


You (click to change)

They just give it to you?


Dimitri

They are allowed to access the system for free

Well all of it is public information


You (click to change)

Oh, so I could just get it myself?


Dimitri

You would be able to access the same info. What we have done is aggregated it all at a massive level throughout the united states


You (click to change)

I don't understand...this fax I got tells me someone submitted a request to access my purchase order information


Dimitri

It is done through FOIA

There are different triggers for the faxes

Sometimes it could be someone was looking at something in your field, or your company. I am not in marketing so I am not to sure.

But if you have sold to the government then you are in the system

Would you like a live demo? That is free


You (click to change)

So you are saying that because we sell to XXX then our data is not safe?


Dimitri

What do you mean by your data is not safe?

Just trying to get a better understanding of the question


You (click to change)

This fax indicates that someone may be targeting my clients


Dimitri

Everything in the system is public information. We do not have anything that is private in the system


You (click to change)

Why didn't XXX tell me this when we accepted them as customers?


Dimitri

I dont really know how to answer that? I am not with XXX? But as I mentioned this is the case with any government agency you can request information through a public records request also known as a FOIA request

Freedom of Information Act

Would you like to see the system, to see what it is that we do?

And maybe get a better understanding


You (click to change)

I know what that is, so someone did this to see what we are selling XXX? And they used your system? This letter makes me feel like you are in charge of this whole scenario, but this is the first time I've ever heard of Smart Procure

So basically Smart Procure filed a FOIA to see what we are selling the government, then you are selling the information? And offering to sell my competitor's sales history to me?

Hello?


Dimitri

Sorry, I apologize I was on a call

The best way to think of the system is like a search engine. So like google for government spending. Everything on google is all public stuff that they gathered into a search engine. So SmartProcure in comparison has done that with government spending

Hello?


You (click to change)

Ok, I was just gathering information for others who have been receiving these faxes as well. We have an online group and are trying to evaluate if this is a money making scam.


Dimitri

This is no scam we are a legitimate company. You are already on our website so you can check our about us, see our advisory board.

You can also go to the SmartProcure in the news and see that as well

A couple of weeks ago NYC just did a partnership with us -- http://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/liu-annou ... rchasing-costs/


You (click to change)

Yes, I pulled all the information from the SEC and the corporate filings. The concern is that the faxes appear to come from a government agency, with the seal and all.


Dimitri

I say all of this to let you know, this is no scam

So the seal, is what is uneasy to you?

I am just trying to find out where the issue lies and if there is something that needs to be done I will let the appropriate people know


You (click to change)

Absolutely. It made us all feel that the Government was involved


Dimitri

Well I mean the government is involved. But not in the sense that you are speaking. I believe I understand what you mean.

You felt as if the government was requesting something from you?


You (click to change)

Yes, exactly.


Dimitri

Well I apologize about that, that is not the intention. The intention is more so to make you aware. But I understand where you are coming from, and this is something I will make aware to the marketing department.


You (click to change)

Thank you, and I would like to opt out of receiving these faxes.


Dimitri

I truly do apologize, we do not wish for you to feel scared or intimidated. That is not the intention at all

That is no problem at all. What is your fax number?


You (click to change)

XXX-XXX-XXXX


Dimitri

Let me as you a question just to let them know

Does this turn you off to even finding out more about the company? Like receiving that fax does that make you not want to even see a demonstration of the system or find out anything about it?

Just so you know I truly do appreciate the honesty and I will make the marketing department aware of your concerns.


You (click to change)

We do such a small amount of business with the government...maybe XXX per year. I'm sure the cost of your service would be about equal to that, and therefore not really a benefit, so no thank you.


Dimitri

Well, I hope that I answered any of your questions or concerns adequately.
Dimitri has left the chat, but don't worry. We will still be able to retrieve any messages you leave behind.

Addendum to above response from Bernie:

Header stated that FAX was from the Office of Purchase Order Notificatons.us

Received an unsolicited Fax from same company @ telephone 954-420-9900; Deerfield Beach Florida. Fax essentially stated that "one of your biggest competitors requested access to purchase orders from our database of government purchase information" Also offered a national number to have Fax number removed from database: 877-741-9402. I did not call that number and instead opted to call the apparent office number, as listed on the Fax, 954-420-9900. This office is located--allegedly-- in Suite4-100, w. Hillsboro Avenue, Deerfield Beach, Florida.

I spoke with James who stated that their company essentially does what is described in marketwatch.com. I told James to remove me from the list & he assured me that he forwarded a notice to their marketing department to have my number removed..

It is difficult to ascertain, but this could be a phishing scam or a technique to obfuscate their data collection platform. Due to the nature of this solicitation, I am seriously contemplating reporting this to the FBI's Cyber Crime Center--IC3.

1)  received an unsolicited fax from 561-300-8931.  the fax said to opt out by sending a return fax to that #, or calling the 877 741 9402 #.  i called to opt out.  a recording answered saying " you have reached the nat'l fax removal center..."  google search finds little on that name.  so i don't know if i just ADDED my fax to a call list or whether they will remove it like they claim?  we'll see...

2)  the fax sent said "to learn more go to PurchaseOrderNotifications.us".  i googled that and there is nothing about it on google.  (so probably all a phishing scam.  i wish i had not opted out now.)
there is an address on the fax, which i googled and it came up w/ this company:

smartprocedure.us
700 West Hillsboro Blvd.
Suite 4-100
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
954-420-9900
(this phone # will not accept calls w/ called ID blocked?!  why not?!  hmmmm?...)

3)  at the site an online agent asks if you have questions.  i typed, "what's your fax #?"...  waiting... 15 min later...

what is your fax #?
James
9546882050
You (click to change)
you have a 561 fax #?
James (after a long pause)
I don't think so

then james went offline = he hung up on our chat.  
FISHY???

FYI = the company written about on marketwatch.com is described as;   a Florida-based company that improves procurement intelligence through information sharing, connects thousands of local, state and federal agencies to government contractors to determine market opportunities, product trends, and competitive intelligence.

BOTTOM LINE = i doubt this is a bad company or scammer but they are hoping to sell you information and/or collecting your information to sell.

Received unsolicited fax from 561-300-8931.  Scam.

Received an unsolicited fax from 561-300-8931, which listed this phone number as the opt-out number.

removal number for a Government Contract Scam.   Fax was 561-300-8931  but probably fake