It is estimated that one in every three scams in the United States is aimed at a small business owner. Among the variety of scams they use are directory scams and vendor scams.
Small businesses are a principal target for scam artists of all
The directory scam
A con artist approaches a small business to ask if they would like to be included in a physical or on-line “business directory” which is being put together. The scam artist might call it a directory of “recommended” businesses. The business owner pays a fee to be included in the directory, and then never sees it or the salesperson again.
Preventive measures
Ask to see the most recent copy of the directory or for the directory’s URL.
Ask to be referred to another business that has been included in past directories.
Vendor scams
This scam involves a phony office supply company that tries to sell office supplies at grossly inflated prices. These phony companies have generic names like “ACME Office Supplies” or “Office Supply Warehouse.” Often times they’ll contact you by e-mail or even show up uninvited at your business. Even worse they may just send your company an invoice for items that you never ordered and never received.
Preventive measures
Make sure that all of your employees know which vendor supplies your office equipment.
Be aware of the prices you usually pay for supplies.
Follow up on any and all invoices that appear to be suspicious.
City-wide business crime statistics, monthly comparison
• Commercial Burglary
Dec. 2009 Jan. 2010 Feb. 2010
5 2 1
• Trespass
Dec. 2009 Jan. 2010 Feb. 2010
3 4 1
• Robbery
Dec. 2009 Jan. 2010 Feb. 2010
0 0 1
• Vandalism
Dec. 2009 Jan. 2010 Feb. 2010
10 3 0
Basic crime prevention through environmental design
Whenever you own or operate a business, something to consider with respect to crime prevention is a concept known as CPTED, or Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. It basically involves designing the landscaping and/or store displays in such a way as to reduce crime opportunities.
Always keep in mind there is a fine balance between having the landscaping and displays set up in such a way as to provide natural observation (customers able to see in and around your business as they pass by) and privacy. While it’s nice to have a private entrance/exit point for customers and yourself, this can be also what criminals use to their advantage in order to gain access to your business without being seen. Some amount of natural observation by the public is necessary to help protect your business during nonoperating hours.
