Due to increased reports from business owners to BBB Scam Tracker and a rash of recent media stories, the Better Business Bureau is warning all business owners about con artists targeting their companies.

A nasty mix of newer and older fraudulent schemes have defrauded or attempted to defraud businesses out of significant amounts of money recently. Educating yourself and your employees is key when it comes to protecting yourself and your business from fraudsters.

The following is a list of the most recent scams that target local businesses:

Labor law poster scam: An important-looking letter addressed to your company informs you that you need to order new versions of some labor law posters. Attached is an order form for you to fill out and return along with payment, which can be up to several hundred dollars. The wording in the letter implies that failure to pay for these posters will result in your company being out of compliance with state and federal labor laws – and there could be legal ramifications.

How to protect your business: There are, in fact, certain posters that need to be displayed in every workplace, according to the law. However, the posters can be obtained for free from the Texas Workforce Commission. For more information, Texas employers can call the TWC’s Labor Law unit at 800-832-9243 or 512-475-2670. Additional Federally required posters may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor. Contact them by calling 866-487-2365.

Office supplies scam: A delivery of office supplies arrives on your company’s doorstep, and an employee pays for them, assuming a colleague must have placed an order. But it turns out the box contains items you didn’t order and don’t need, or it’s completely empty.

How to protect your business: Make sure your company has a formal process for ordering office supplies, paying for them and accepting deliveries. If you keep track of all orders placed, the employee responsible for accepting deliveries should be able to match any shipment to the tracking sheet before accepting it.

Directory listing scam: You receive a phone call asking to update or confirm your company’s contact information in a business directory listing, and you’re led to believe it’s the yellow pages. A short time later, you receive an invoice for hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a listing in a directory you’ve never heard of – and, typically, one that doesn’t even exist. Unsuspecting employees may pay the bill, not realizing you never agreed to the charges. If you refuse to pay or try to cancel your listing, the scammers threaten you with legal action and aggressive collection tactics. They may even play back a doctored recording of your phone conversation as “proof” of your agreement to the charges.

How to protect your business: Steer clear of solicitations for directory listings. Instead, be proactive and selective about which directories you want your business to be listed in, and contact them yourself to initiate a listing. When the time comes to renew, verify any contact from someone claiming to be with the directory company.

For additional resources on how to build a better business and to find out how to network with other businesses, go to bbb.org.

 

Mechele Mills is the President/CEO for the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas. Prior to her role at BBB, she led and consulted organizations of all sizes, managing operations, sales marketing and personnel for both the public and private sector. She holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism/PR from The University of Texas at Tyler and a Master’s in Business Administration from Baylor University.