The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) encourages individuals and small business owners to stay vigilant and protect their personal and financial information.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there are four common warning signs of a scam:
- Impersonation: Scammers pretend to represent trusted businesses, organizations, or government agencies.
- Problems or Prizes: They claim there’s an urgent issue to resolve or a prize you’ve won.
- Pressure: They demand immediate action before you have time to verify their claims.
- Suspicious Payments: They insist on payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or other specific methods.
During the holiday rush, take a moment to verify unexpected messages, avoid suspicious links, and double-check payment requests. Remember: A few extra moments of caution can prevent costly mistakes.
Learn more about protecting yourself and report suspected scams at www.ftc.gov/scams.
The Illinois SBDC wishes our local businesses and communities a safe and successful holiday season!
