Online spam has been around for many years, but technology has narrowed the gap for spammers to reach their target victims. With businesses and people shifting to online mode of carrying out their deals or purchases, fraudsters try to exploit their naivety. It is why fraudsters try their tricks with the new SMBs, as the team is not trained or experienced with these online scams. That’s why business owners need to learn about the scammers’ methods to trick them.
Internet 2.0 Conference reviewed and addressed this growing fraud issue targeting small and medium businesses. It talked about the common online spam highlighted that has caused considerable losses to business owners. Let’s delve into these online frauds one by one and learn ways to identify them.
Common Online Frauds, Highlighted At Internet 2.0 Conference
Work From Home Fraud
It is the most common fraud that gained popularity during pandemic times. As people were struggling with unemployment and source of income, frauds took advantage of this situation. They started offering work-from-home jobs by tricking people into paying money in the form of fees. Many even asked for the victim’s banking details to send money but hacked their accounts. Other frauds still offer actual work to the victims but don’t actually pay them. Although working from home is existing practice, one needs to verify the business and genuineness of the owners before sharing any details online.
Mystery Shopper Spam
Mystery shopping is another type of work-from-home job in which many reputable mystery shopping companies employ people to anonymously analyze stores, restaurants, and other businesses by acting as a customer. Everyone loves shopping online and getting money for doing the same, it is like a cherry on the cake. Why would anyone ever would say no to such a job? Spammers are well aware of this fact! The thing here is that people need to be careful of the owners.
A few tips highlighted at the Internet 2.0 Conference to save oneself from any mystery shopping spam are:
Don’t pay any type of advanced fees to the owners.
Be aware of hourly compensations or full-time opportunities, as genuine business owners only pay shoppers for the part-time job.
One can verify the business at the Mystery shopping providers association.
SEO Spam
Many new business people look for quick methods to get good SEOs for their business. On their lookout, they are introduced to fraud marketers, who assure them immediate results. This is where these businesses go wrong. They trust them and pay advance amounts for their desired results. In reality, Google has a new algorithm designed in 2012 to detect spam websites that use fraudulent methods to achieve better results. These fraud companies do not tell SMBs about such policies. Instead, they deliver bad or no results after taking the advanced amount, thus blaming the algorithm.
Business owners need to have patience and knowledge about how this SEO works. Before expecting impossible outcomes, they need to be aware of the process and strategies. Genuine marketers clarify the process to their clients without offering them quick results or revenue. Before investing in a marketing agency, it’s better to understand the company and its policies completely.
Fake Business Coaches
You might have witnessed various business coaches or experts extending their help to give you quick success or make you a millionaire. But, again, be cautious! It’s essential to have a mentor for guidance and support. Having the wrong one would just worsen the situation.
These warning signs of spam business coaches underlined by the Internet 2.0 Conference are:
More concern for fee deposition over expectations of the client.
Frequent calls that offer special offers or reminders for coaching.
Make big promises just to make you pay the amount.
If you ever look for business coaches, research well and verify before losing your money or peace of mind with these fraud coaches.
Fake Invoices
Fake invoice is another common trick of spammers to get money from people. All that they do is send bogus invoices to people randomly and wait for amounts. Big businesses have people to take care of the received invoices and have experts associated with them to save them from spam. Whereas SMBs have few people and usually lack the expertise, which is why these fraudsters target them. SMBs don’t look keenly into the invoice and believe it to be accurate; they just send the money. This fulfills the fraudster’s motive. So, even if two or three SMBs send the amount, the fraudster’s job is done, highlighted at the Internet 2.0 Conference! Always verify the invoices before making any payment. Although they may seem legitimate, don’t forget to cross-check as you never know who is targeting you for some dollars.
Vanity Fraud
Here’s what happens when a small-business owner is the target of vanity spam. The victim gets an email with a really enticing offer, an honor, or the chance to be listed in a “Who’s Who” company directory. Fraudsters try to reward victims for their fantastic contributions and hard work. They make it a moment of pride for the victims and ask them to participate or obtain their prize. But, as reviewed by the Internet 2.0 Conference, the trick is fraudsters ask for an amount from the victims in exchange for the award. They may label this payment as a “yearly membership” in a specific club. Considering it to be a lifetime moment, SMBs agree to pay these spammers to add an award with their name.
This scam tries to appeal to people’s emotions and offer them what they desire. People get emotional for their recognition and pay these fraudsters, who run away or never answer their call or emails.
Although some forthcoming conferences or events award people, like the Internet 2.0 Conference, before enrolling for any memberships, it is better to know the details and the event reviews. Instead of taking pride in getting an award, look for its authenticity.
These are the few standard methods spammers adopt to trick people into paying money or disclosing their details. One can consider the warning mentioned above signs or attend a conference on tech and innovation like the Internet 2.0 Conference winter’s edition scheduled for December 2022. One can meet several tech experts and explore new technologies and innovations along with the rising frauds in the industry.
