[NFBNJ] NFBNJ: Six Big Scams For Small Businesses

[Brian Mackey]

>From the desk of NFBNJ President Joe Ruffalo.

Received from Linda Mackey, Board Member, NJ Seniors Division.

 

Greetings to all,

 

The following was forwarded by Linda Mackey.

We have forwarded for your information.

 

6 Big Scams     on Small Businesses

by  <http://blog.aarp.org/author/skirchheimer/> Sid Kirchheimer |
<http://blog.aarp.org/2016/09/02/6-big-scams-on-small-businesses/#livefyre-c
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<http://18674-presscdn.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/iSto
ck_51615230_MEDIUM.jpg> Scammers are increasing their focus on small and
midsize businesses. Among the top ploys that burn employers and their labor
force:

Phishing emails. Business email compromise (BEC) is a fast-growing scheme in
which cybercrooks glean names and titles of executives from LinkedIn or
corporate websites to spoof internal messages, usually alleged to come from
top executives. In the most common ruse - netting scammers
<https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/cleveland/news/press-releases/
fbi-warns-of-rise-in-schemes-targeting-businesses-and-online-fraud-of-financ
ial-officers-and-individuals> over $2 billion in recent years, according to
the FBI - they pose as the CEO and email instructions to pay a vendor or
bill; the money is wired to a scammer-run account. Employees may also
receive bogus emails, allegedly from human resources, instructing them to
update their log-in credentials so those accounts can be accessed. So before
you act on such "company" emails, authenticate them with an interoffice
phone call.

 

Deactivating deception. In emails or letters, businesses are falsely told
that their website address,
<http://www.smartcompany.com.au/marketing/social-media/73959-small-businesse
s-targeted-by-facebook-scam-lessons-for-your-business/> Facebook account or
other online presence is about to be "deactivated" - a move to generate
quick cash in bogus renewals, to glean log-in credentials or to distribute
malware. Also beware of companies that promise you - for a hefty fee -
better placement of your business in Google searches; no third-party vendor
can guarantee keyword-placement results.

Phony invoices. Businesses receive fake invoices demanding payment for
products or services they never ordered or received, often in amounts small
enough not to raise suspicions, the Better Business Bureau warns.

Better Business Bureau bamboozlement. In one longtime and sporadically
recurring ruse, businesses get emails alleged to be from the Better Business
Bureau with a subject line such as "Complaint from your customers." When
worried business owners click the attached links for "more details," malware
is unleashed that provides cybercriminals with remote access to company
files. In another scheme, self-described BBB employees call companies to
"update" business or personal information so they can obtain details for BEC
and other scams - and/or
<http://www.bbb.org/detroit/news-events/bbb-in-the-news/2016/04/better-busin
ess-bureau-scammers-are-using-our-name/> threaten to charge fees for not
immediately providing these updates.

Supply swindles. Sometimes, boxes supposedly packed with office supplies
arrive unexpectedly with cash-on-delivery decrees from duping deliverymen.
Front-desk employees may assume the delivery is expected by a coworker
(fraudsters can get names easily enough), but the boxes may be filled with
junk or be empty, according to the
<https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/small-business-sca
ms> Federal Trade Commission. Other times, companies are phoned in advance
to learn what brand of supplies or equipment they use, and in a follow-up
call, self-described suppliers offer bargain prices on surplus merchandise
that's paid for in advance but never delivered.

Directory scams. Claiming to be from the Yellow Pages or an online phone
directory, swindlers ask businesses to confirm their address and phone
number (or for online directories, request search-term keywords to use on
search engines). Assuming they are simply updating an existing listing,
employees provide this seemingly innocent information. But then, the company
is billed hundreds of dollars for allegedly provided listing services or may
be sent "solicitation" paperwork that may be interpreted as a bona fide
invoice.

 

 

Forwarded by:

 

Brian A. Mackey

Brian A. Mackey
Owner, Mackey Enterprises, LLC
Treasurer & Webmaster, National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
609-953-6988
 <mailto:Bmackey88 at gmail.com> Bmackey88 at gmail.com
 <http://www.mackeyenterprisesllc.com/> www.mackeyenterprisesllc.com

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make
those dreams come true"
      -Vince Papale

 

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