Small businesses: Beware of scams
Older residents aren’t the only ones who need to be careful of scams. There are plenty of them targeted at small businesses which could lead to ruin if you’re not careful.
That was the warning from Michelle Sargis, crime prevention specialist from the Lee County Sherriff’s Office, who was the guest speaker May 18 for the monthly North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Business Leader’s luncheon at Heron’s Glen.
Sargis, who has been in crime prevention for the last nine years, has seen them all and keeps track on all the latest trends scammers are using to get into your wallet.
Sargis said small business scammers use pretty much the same methods they would on private citizens. The difference is that while the owners may be on top of things, the employees may not.
“They attack by computer, the phone system and through the mail,” Sargis said. “Many things in the business is left up to employees. The owner may not be aware of the scam that’s happening because the employee is who’s contacted.”
Small business fraud is a growing concern, as it was not seen in the past. But because of the recent hackings on large retailers such as Target, Home Depot and others, the smaller companies are seen as easy pickings.
“They realize if it’s that easy to get into the larger businesses, let’s hit the small businesses. Maybe they won’t be as aware, and when it hits them, it hits them harder,” Sargis said.
Among the common scams include direct listing scams into bogus directories, office supplies that show up unexpectedly, giving money to bogus charities, URL scams that warn you will lose your web address if you don’t pay immediately, and check scams where you end up getting billed for something you don’t need by cashing it.
The employee, sometimes a teenager, is not educated on the frauds and scams going on, so it is easier for them to fall victim, Sargis said.
“Education and training for employees on vigilance and getting to know these things, checking invoices, looking at documents and verifying the items they receive match invoices and that e-mails are legitimate,” Sargis said.
You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau and alert the state attorney general.
In other business, the first Chamber Bingo event of the summer was a huge success. The May 14 event packed the house and raised more than $1,800. The next Bingo event is June 25.
The next luncheon will be at the Smokin’ Pit on June 15. The guest speaker is expected to be insurance agent Brian Avery, who will discuss protecting yourself in the event of a hurricane.