Business Supply Scams
Make sure you're too savvy to become a victim.
Watch out! As an entrepreneur, you are a target for one of themost common--and potentially most costly--business scams:telemarketing con artists selling overpriced, poor-quality officesupplies. Here are some tips to protect your business.
- The Federal Trade Commission requires telemarketers to disclosethat it's a sales call, who they are and the total cost of whatthey're selling--so don't be afraid to ask.
- Make sure your employees are scam-aware and establish aprocedure for handling such calls.
- Keep track of all orders, and limit the number of staff who areallowed to order.
- If you receive merchandise you didn't order--and the sellercannot prove you did-you can keep the materials and are notobligated to pay.
Excerpted from Start Your Own Business: The Only Start-Up GuideYou'll Ever Need
