Small business owners are passionate, dedicated individuals who have accumulated years of expertise in an industry. Through time and experience, they often have found ways to improve processes and use that knowledge to the benefit of their customers and clients. However, one aspect of business ownership that they may not be as familiar with is marketing.
To overcome their lack of experience in attracting new customers, many small business owners turn to marketing agencies and firms to handle their online presence or advertisement needs. Unfortunately, the demand for these services opens the opportunity for scammers to take advantage of small business owners. BBB Scam Tracker receives multiple reports across the nation of phony businesses tricking small business owners into signing monthly contracts for services that are never rendered.
How the scam works
A small business owner seeking a low-cost marketing service discovers a company that offers exactly what they are looking for. The company may claim to offer public relations, search engine optimization or other general marketing support for a low monthly fee, often promising amazing results.
Once a small business owner signs up and submits payment, the company becomes difficult to communicate with. They may constantly postpone or delay promised marketing materials, such as social media posts,…
