The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) is warning Upstate businesses not to fall for unsolicited telephone calls attempting to sell Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) posters or other state and federal government materials.

SCDCA has been made aware that some companies have been using high-pressure sales tactics and vague threats of fines and criminal charges to pressure businesses into purchasing government mandated materials. Often the company will have an official-sounding name and may reference being affiliated with various government programs, but they are not.

In reality, OSHA materials like posters are supplied free of charge and can be obtained by contacting the U.S. Department of Labor or the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Companies can check with these entities to be sure they have all required materials posted. Legitimate government Web sites, the SCDCA adds, have a web address that ends with a .gov extension.