Welcome to Ask an Expert Business Series with Misty Lambrecht, the owner of
Webfoot Marketing and Design, shareing valuable insights based on her extensive 15 years of experience in business startups and advising in Lincoln County. Throughout your years in business, you
have likely encountered numerous scams that target businesses on a daily basis.
Today, I want to shed light on a few recurring scams that
have been prevalent in our area, serving as a warning to fellow
business owners. By raising awareness and providing information, we
can better protect ourselves and our businesses from falling victim to
these deceptive practices. Stay tuned as we delve into these scams
and discuss ways to safeguard your business against them.
One scam that has gained notoriety is the poster scale scam. You may
receive a mail claiming that you must purchase certain posters for the
Bureau of Labor to be posted on a specific day. However, they
conveniently fail to mention that these posters can be downloaded for
free from the Bureau of Labor's website. This scam has been particularly
prevalent, especially with the recent increase in minimum wage.
Another popular scam to watch out for is domain slamming. This
scam involves an offending domain name registrar attempting to trick
domain owners into switching from their current registrar to theirs
under the false pretense of renewing their subscription. The Domain
Registry of America (DROA) is a common offender, often using
carefully crafted letters adorned with a large American flag,
conspicuous pricing, and an urgent expiration date. If you receive such
a letter, I recommend discarding it and verifying the renewal details
with your actual domain registrar to avoid unnecessary transfers and
potential domain loss.
Additionally, there is the business registry renewal scam which involves
solicitation from a company called Assumed Business Name Renewal
Service. Many Oregon businesses perceive this solicitation as
confusing, deceptive, or a scam. The letter warns of an impending
expiration of the assumed business name, citing Oregon law, and
offers to prepare and file necessary renewal documents with the
Secretary of State Corporation Division for an exorbitant fee. However,
the actual fee to renew the business registry is much lower. It is
advisable to disregard this letter and directly contact the Secretary of
State to renew your business registry for the appropriate fee of $100.
These are just a few examples of scams, and there are many others to
be aware of. Beware of Google listing scams that promise you a front-
page spot on Google, as they are not legitimate. Scams involving UPS
claiming they can't find your address are also prevalent, as well as
those charging exorbitant fees for obtaining EIN numbers which are
actually free.
Exercise extreme caution when it comes to bank scams, as some
have become increasingly sophisticated. There have been cases
where individuals received phone calls claiming their accounts had
been hacked, leading them to click on a link that resembled their
bank's website. However, a slight difference in the website address
indicated it was fraudulent. The person on the call then proceeded to
ask for personal information, including the PIN number. Remember,
your bank will never ask for your PIN number over the phone. If you
encounter this type of scam, hang up immediately and directly call
your bank to report the incident.
Remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect your business
from these scams. Stay informed, educate your employees, and trust
your instincts when something seems suspicious. Together, we can
safeguard our businesses and maintain a secure environment for all.
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