Small business scams

fake supplier scam

A fraudulent supplier offers products at below-market prices, collects payment, and either delivers counterfeit goods, inferior products, or nothing at all.

Verify the supplier's business registration, physical address, and trade references before placing orders.

Small business owners

U.S.

directory listing scam

A company sends an invoice or renewal notice for a business directory listing that was never ordered, pressuring the business to pay for a worthless or nonexistent listing.

Review all invoices against actual purchase orders — never pay without verifying the service was ordered.

Small business owners

U.S.

SEO guarantee scam

An SEO company guarantees first-page Google rankings for a fixed fee, collects payment, and delivers either nothing, black-hat tactics that get the site penalized, or fabricated reports.

Be skeptical of any SEO company that guarantees specific rankings — legitimate agencies discuss strategy, not guaranteed outcomes.

Small business owners

U.S.

business loan advance fee scam

A fraudulent lender guarantees approval for a business loan but requires upfront fees for processing, insurance, or collateral — after payment, the loan never materializes.

Never pay upfront fees to secure a loan — legitimate lenders deduct costs from loan proceeds or charge at closing.

Small business owners

U.S.

fake government compliance notice scam

Businesses receive official-looking letters or emails claiming they must pay a fee or file paperwork to comply with a government regulation that is either fake or already handled by existing filings.

Verify any compliance requirement directly with the government agency referenced in the notice.

Small business owners

U.S.

office supply overcharge scam

A caller claims to confirm an existing supply order and ships unrequested products at inflated prices, then aggressively invoices the business.

Establish a policy that only authorized personnel can approve supply orders, and never confirm orders with unknown callers.

Small business owners

U.S.

vanity award scam

A company informs a business they have won a prestigious award, then charges fees for a trophy, plaque, or event attendance — the award has no real selection criteria.

Research the awarding organization independently — check for reviews, Better Business Bureau complaints, and verifiable past winners.

Small business owners

U.S.

fake BBB accreditation scam

Scammers impersonate the Better Business Bureau and contact businesses offering accreditation, threatening negative ratings, or charging fees for listing improvements that the real BBB never initiated.

Hang up and call your local BBB directly using the number from bbb.org to verify any communication.

Small business owners

U.S.

domain name renewal scam

A company sends a deceptive notice urging a business to renew or transfer its domain name at an inflated price, designed to look like an official renewal from the current registrar.

Always renew domains directly through your current registrar's website — never through unsolicited notices.

Small business owners

U.S.

advertising insertion order fraud

A scammer sends a business an insertion order or invoice for advertising in a publication, directory, or event program that the business never agreed to.

Require all advertising commitments to be in writing with authorized signatures before any work begins.

Small business owners