BBB: Protect Your Operation During Small Business Week

Small Business Week runs through Saturday, and the Better Business Bureau is using the time to remind the agriculture community to be aware of scams. The BBB’s Kirstin Davis told the Washington Ag Network farmers, like any other small business operator, need to watch for anyone claiming money for services or products you don’t have She said one of the most common scams involves supplies you did not order, and in some cases were never shipped to you.

“If you do have a small office, or if you order supplies or things like that they may suggest that you need to pay for these things that were sent, and you may just assume that that someone else ordered it and you need to pay for it, and they are counting on that miscommunication.”

Davis added one of the best ways to stave off scams in the office, communicate with all employees and have one person in charge of outgoing funds, whether that’s purchases, paying bills, etc. Here are some of the top scams targeting small businesses according:

Phishing emails. Scammers pose as top executives and email instructions to employees to pay a vendor or bill. The money sent is wired to a scammer-run account.
Deactivating webpages. Businesses are falsely told through emails or letters that their website address, Facebook account or other online presence is about to be “deactivated.” This is a way for scammers to phish for log-in credentials, distribute malware or obtain cash with fake renewal schemes.
BBB imposters. Business owners and employees are advised to be aware of fake BBB emails with attachments. The emails look very much like a notice of a complaint from BBB, but may contain links to malware that can infect your computer, steal passwords, etc.
Directory/ Yellow Pages scam. Businesses should be wary of providing basic information over the phone such as the business’ address, phone number and email. Businesses who provide this information to scammers that pose as Yellow Pages or another business directory are often billed hundreds of dollars for allegedly buying an ad or providing listing services.