Nearly every small business owner and their employees are exposed to opportunists who take advantage of tough times. I'm not talking about the frequent bogus offers of million dollar commissions for moving money from Nigeria or the get-rich-quick gurus in the cleaning industry. I'm talking about proposals from people that sound authentic, logical and profitable.
Here are some I hadn't heard about, courtesy of the CIBBB:
Plans that appear to be health insurance coverage and sound affordable may actually be a medical discount plan. Medical discount plans can be a way for some people to save money on their health care costs, but discount plans aren’t health insurance.
Scam artists infiltrate groups sharing a common religion, ethnicity, profession or interest by joining or pretending to be members to gain the trust of others in the group. Their plan might be to get investment in a stock or fund, buy a franchise or endorse a piece of equipment or even suggest a real estate investment.
Stimulus scams advertise free government money to be given in return for a fee or financial information. Loan modification scams claim they can save your home from foreclosure if you pay them a fee or pay your mortgage directly to them.
Be wary of new acquaintances who want to do business with you or ask you to do business with them. Like the Mayor of River City, Iowa, said so often in The Music Man, "Get their credentials." If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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