Face-to-face scam You may receive an email, phone call or visit from someone pretending to be a local official or representing a financial services provider. What happens: Scammers will pose as officials or company representatives to gain access to your restaurant’s sensitive information and bank accounts. They could claim to be from the IRS or other tax agency, a health inspector, or a loan officer from the SBA, a bank or credit union. They will try to extort money from you in the form of a fine or an application fee or they’ll request access to your computer systems.
Why it works: comply with officials when carrying out inspections or audits. Backing this up, they’re often fooled by effective and convincing fake IDs, official looking documents and spoofed email addresses. In addition, indonesia telegram phone number list the restaurant sector has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years and may be susceptible to scammers offering financial assistance. [Related article: How to Get Approved for a Small Business Loan] Solutions: Ask for and check ID: Always check the ID of anyone claiming to be acting in an official capacity.
Contact the organization they claim to represent to verify their identity. Train your staff: You may not always be there if a scammer drops in unannounced so create a procedure for staff to follow in these situations. Don’t pay fees or fines on the spot: If you’re presented with a fine by someone claiming to be a public official or an upfront fee by a supposed broker or lender, don’t pay it and ask them to send it by post.
Restaurant owners and staff are trained to
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