Phony Email Targets Small Business Owners
Warning by Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Small business owners are always looking for new business leads. The BBB warned business owners to be wary of scam emails that appear to be a Request for a Proposal (RFP) but are really targeting your business to separate you from your money or to tarnish your reputation.
The scam works as follows: The business owner receives an email with the subject “RFP Proposal” or something similar. It appears that a possible customer is asking you to bid on a contract. If you open the message, you will be able to download the attached RFP file. You may be asked for personal information to demonstrate that your company has the financial resources to handle the contract or it may include a link to a malware-infected file. You may have just infected your computer with a virus.
What should you do? First, consult with your IT consultant as to how to identify these scam emails and perhaps how to set your filters to prevent these from going to your inbox. If you receive what appears to be a legitimate email, do some research about the company. Do not call the phone number listed in the email. Find the company’s main telephone number using the Internet. Then call the company contact in the email and inquire if s/he is looking for proposals from companies such as yours. If the person does not exist, refuses to speak with you or is out of the country, these are red flags.
If you would like to discuss your business or personal tax planning, tax preparation and other financial concerns with an experienced tax professional, we invite you to call 610-594-2601 today to make an appointment at our Exton PA CPA office to discuss your situation. You can also schedule a consultation at Click Here.
