BBB: Farmers Need to Watch for Small Business Scams

The Better Business Bureau is remnding farmers and growers across the Inland Northwest to watch for scams typically targeted for small businesses.  The BBB’s Kristen Davis says small operators have a lot on their plate, and scammers try to take advantage of that with fast talking pitches.  She said one of the most common is the directory scam, where businesses are told they should be part of a national directory to get before additional clients.  She said more often then not, this is just a way to separate you from your money.

“The reality is the Directory does not exist at all.  So, if you do belong to a directory like that, you just want to make sure that it’s actually published or on-line, and that you have seen it.  And also evaluate the value of those on an annual basis.”

Davis says small business owners need to watch out for phishing scams.  She added malware and viruses can also be expensive for small operations.

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