Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/816243
W EEKLY EDITION APRIL 26, 2017 Scams Affecting Portable Sanitation Business …continued By PSAI Executive Director Karleen Kos To avoid any confusion, be aware of which company you originally registered your domain name with and when that would be up for renewal. Even if the renewal notice sounds legit, connect with your original domain name provider based on the contact information from your original paperwork to ensure you are renewing with the same company. Directory Listings The point of this scam is to go after small businesses who already pay to have their listings appear in magazines, journals or business directories. The caller or e - mailer will quote your existing listing and ask for updated information with a renewal fee. Another version of this scam is when a directory service contacts you to offer a free listing. The plan is then they would follow with that business at a later date demanding payment at a much higher price than legitimate directory listings. Keep a record of everyone you advertise or list with, whether it's a local newspaper or an industry magazine. Ensure you have the contracts and receipts for all the different outlets so there are no surprises or mistaken identities. Office Supply Scam If you are a small business that goes through a lot of every day office supplies, the Competition Bureau of Canada warns you may be ripe for the taking in this deceptio n. These shady office supply companies will call and claim to be your "regular supplier" asking if you would like to get more of what you normally order like paper, printer ink or maintenance supplies. They might even try to incentivize you by saying there is a special offer that they wanted to ensure you were able to take advantage of since you order from them normally. These companies are trying to take advantage of your busy schedule and hope you won't question them too much. They will then send you low quality products and higher prices than you were quoted over the phone. Just be diligent to always order from your normal supplier or just purchase them from a store. Be wary of anyone who calls trying to sell you office supplies over the phone who isn't your regular supplier. The Vanity Scam A vanity scam preys on one very gullible aspect of humans — their pride. This scam is listed as one of the top con jobs targeting small businesses. In a vanity scam, a business is contacted about winning an award and a sked to pay the partial or full amount of the cost of receiving the award using a credit card. However, these are bogus organizations that often continue to charge the cardholder yearly "membership fees." To avoid this one, always research the organizatio n calling to offer the award. A simple online search will yield several complaints and warnings. P AGE 3 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4