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Small Business Scams
Scams that target small business can come in a variety of forms—from
bills for advertising or directory listings that were never ordered
to dubious office supply offers.
What to look for
Small business operators and individuals with their own internet sites continue to be confused and caught out by unsolicited letters warning them that their internet domain name is due to expire and must be renewed, or offering them a new domain name similar to their current one.
If you have registered a domain name, be sure to carefully check any domain name renewal notices or invoices that you receive. While the notice could be genuine, it could also be from another company trying to sign you up, or it could be from a scammer.
Small business operators and individuals with their own internet sites continue to be confused and caught out by unsolicited letters warning them that their internet domain name is due to expire and must be renewed, or offering them a new domain name similar to their current one.
If you have registered a domain name, be sure to carefully check any domain name renewal notices or invoices that you receive. While the notice could be genuine, it could also be from another company trying to sign you up, or it could be from a scammer.
- Check that the renewal notice matches your current domain name exactly. Look out for small differences—e.g. ‘.com.au’ instead of ‘.net.au’.
- Check that the renewal notice comes from the company with which you originally registered your domain name.
-
Check your records for the actual expiry
date for your existing domain name.
A directory entry or unauthorised advertising
scam tries to bill a business for a listing or advertisement
in a magazine, journal or business register/directory.
The scam might come as a proposal for a subscription disguised as an invoice for an entry in a fake international fax, telex or trade directory. You might also be led to believe that you are responding to an offer for a free entry when in fact the order is for entries requiring later payment.
Another common approach used by scammers is to call a firm asking to confirm details of an advertisement that they claim has already been booked. The scammer might quote a genuine entry or advertisement your business has had in a different publication or directory to convince you that you really did use the scammer’s product.
A faxback scam can offer you anything from amazing diets to fantastic deals, business directory entries and competition entries—all you have to do is send a fax back to a premium rate number.Premium rate faxes can be charged at more than $6.00 per minute. The scammers make sure your fax takes several minutes to get through, resulting in a high phone bill.
An office supply scam involves you receiving and being charged for goods that you did not order. These scams often involve goods or services that you regularly order—for example, paper, printing supplies, maintenance supplies or advertising. You might receive a phone call from someone claiming to be your ‘regular supplier’, telling you that the offer is a ‘special’ or ‘available for a limited time’. If you agree to buy any of the supplies offered to you, they will often be overpriced and bad quality.
The scam might come as a proposal for a subscription disguised as an invoice for an entry in a fake international fax, telex or trade directory. You might also be led to believe that you are responding to an offer for a free entry when in fact the order is for entries requiring later payment.
Another common approach used by scammers is to call a firm asking to confirm details of an advertisement that they claim has already been booked. The scammer might quote a genuine entry or advertisement your business has had in a different publication or directory to convince you that you really did use the scammer’s product.
A faxback scam can offer you anything from amazing diets to fantastic deals, business directory entries and competition entries—all you have to do is send a fax back to a premium rate number.Premium rate faxes can be charged at more than $6.00 per minute. The scammers make sure your fax takes several minutes to get through, resulting in a high phone bill.
An office supply scam involves you receiving and being charged for goods that you did not order. These scams often involve goods or services that you regularly order—for example, paper, printing supplies, maintenance supplies or advertising. You might receive a phone call from someone claiming to be your ‘regular supplier’, telling you that the offer is a ‘special’ or ‘available for a limited time’. If you agree to buy any of the supplies offered to you, they will often be overpriced and bad quality.
PROTECT YOURSELF
REMEMBER
A legitimate bank or financial institution will never ask you to click on a link in an email or send your account details through an email or website.
A legitimate bank or financial institution will never ask you to click on a link in an email or send your account details through an email or website.
CAUTION
Never send your personal, credit card or account information by an email or enter it on a website that you are not certain is genuine.
Never send your personal, credit card or account information by an email or enter it on a website that you are not certain is genuine.
THINK
Don’t give out your personal, credit card or account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.
Don’t give out your personal, credit card or account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.
INVESTIGATE
www.NigerianSpam.com has links to websites with the latest information and tips on how to protect yourself online. Keep your security software up to date to detect and remove viruses and other malicious software. A computer professional can advise you about this.
www.NigerianSpam.com has links to websites with the latest information and tips on how to protect yourself online. Keep your security software up to date to detect and remove viruses and other malicious software. A computer professional can advise you about this.
ASK YOURSELF
Are the contact details provided in an email correct? Telephone your bank or financial institution to ask whether the email you received from them is genuine. Use a phone number that you know is legitimate, from an account statement, the phone book or the back of your ATM card do not rely on the contact details provided in the email.
Are the contact details provided in an email correct? Telephone your bank or financial institution to ask whether the email you received from them is genuine. Use a phone number that you know is legitimate, from an account statement, the phone book or the back of your ATM card do not rely on the contact details provided in the email.