Businesses

There is considerable overlap between scams targeting individual consumers and those targeting small businesses (with or without employees). Small businesses, like individuals, are susceptible to scams. Con artists rely on gaps in knowledge, awareness, and preparedness among small business owners and their employees to successfully perpetrate scams. The limited research available on the topic — mostly from outside of the United States — suggests that small businesses are particularly vulnerable to scams, are less inclined to report scams, are likely to be subject to repeat attacks, and are particularly susceptible to online scams¹.  

The materials below can help small business owners better understand how scammers target and impact their business and provide tips on how to avoid interacting with these scams.

1. Schaper, M. T., & Weber, P. (2012). Understanding Small Business Scams. Journal of Enterprising Culture, 20(3), 333356

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