Mar. 4, 2013, Toronto — The Competition Bureau of Canada has improved online access to The Little Black Book of Scams to kick off Fraud Prevention Month.
The booklet offers hints to help business owners and other Canadians
identify various types of scams, including fraudulent phone calls,
in-person visits, e-mails and software. Building on the success of the
publication, which was launched last year during Fraud Prevention Month,
is now easier to read on mobile devices, and a high-resolution,
ready-to-print version is available for organizations that wish to print
their own copies.
"Scams that target small
businesses can come in a variety of forms – from bills for advertising
or directory listings that were never ordered to dubious office supply
offers," the guide warns.
To avoid getting scammed, The Little Black Book of Scams recommends that business owners:
- Make
sure that the people processing invoices or answering telephones are
aware of ongoing scams. They will most often be the point of contact for
the scammers. Always check that goods or services were both ordered and
delivered before paying an invoice. - Never give out or update any information about your business unless you know what the information will be used for.
- Don't
agree to a business proposal over the phone – always ask for an offer
in writing. Limit the number of people in your business that have access
to funds and have the authority to approve purchases. - Effective
management procedures can go a long way toward preventing these scams
from succeeding. Having clearly defined procedures fro the verification,
payment and management of accounts and invoices is an effective defence
against these types of scams.
Click here to download Competition Bureau of Canada's The Little Black Book of Scams.
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