You can easily fall victim to marketing fraud if you’re not careful. If you want to avoid these frauds, you need to arm yourself with the knowledge of how they work and how you can stay safe from them. Based on the telephonic conversation with Faisal Abidi we come up with some ways to avoid marketing fraud and protect your business, finances, and personal information in the process.
Never give out your private information
In addition to avoiding common scams like phishing, identity theft, and credit card fraud, you should never give out your personal information over email. This includes social security numbers, bank account information, and passwords. Even if an email is legitimate, it could be a scam; don’t risk it! Just because someone has your contact info doesn’t mean they have a right to it.
Go with your gut
If you’re sceptical about a marketing idea or approach, take it as a red flag and run with your gut. Your instincts are worth trusting. If you’re getting that uneasy feeling in your stomach and can’t articulate why—it may just be an internal alarm warning you of potential danger. There are plenty of legitimate ways to market your business—be wary of any approach that smacks of spam or scam.
Trust no one
At some point, most startups receive a spam email offering an easy fix for their biggest pain points. Recognize that if you’re receiving spam emails, then your competitors and peers are, too. Instead of taking everything at face value, research and validate what you hear before following up with anyone or investing any money or time in their product. A good rule of thumb is to take action only on advice that aligns with your unique goals and needs.
Research your seller
To avoid getting ripped off by a marketing fraudster, research your seller thoroughly. Use customer reviews and check that they’re registered with the Better Business Bureau (if applicable). Also, if you’re thinking of buying from an online marketplace like Amazon or Alibaba, always check for sellers who have a lot of positive reviews and excellent feedback. And lastly, don’t be afraid to talk directly with your seller.
Only buy from trustworthy sellers
If you’re looking for a new product or service and you want to avoid falling victim to marketing fraud, your best bet is to buy from trustworthy sellers. You’ve probably heard it before: if something sounds too good (or too simple) to be true, it probably is. If you follow that rule of thumb, you should be able to steer clear of most marketers trying to sell an overpriced product or service.
Buy from trusted sites
When shopping online, stick with trusted sites. While you may be able to find a deal on an unheard-of site, it’s always worth your time (and a little bit of cash) to do some research first. And while it’s easy to set up a site and call yourself a business, not every site is trustworthy or legitimate.
Use only recommended payment methods
One of the most important pieces of advice for a business is that you should only use recommended payment methods. Fraudsters usually target inexperienced business owners or people who have never worked with other professionals before. They will also try to get you to make payments through a third party, so as not to be traced or caught.
Trust your gut feeling
It’s easy to get excited about landing a big ad campaign with a legitimate business; there are plenty of horror stories, though, about agencies that over-promise and underdeliver. If your intuition is telling you something doesn’t feel right, listen to it. Be especially wary if an agency is only prepared to deal with you via email and won’t give you a phone number or address.
