Avoid Copycat Website Scams

As entrepreneurs, we do a lot of research, don't we? If you are the boss, who is there to ask? Expensive attorneys? Paid Consultants? I know we have spent a lot of time reading and researching online for the basics of opening and operating a business. We have had to learn some things the hard way, and we are here to help you avoid those same mis-steps with regard to Website Scams.

Sneaky Online Ads

Have you ever googled something, simply to click on an advertised link that was closely disguised as the source site you were looking for? This happened recently, when a search was conducted for a link to the IRS site to get an EIN number. We googled, we clicked, and we went through the form on a site that looked, in many ways, exactly like the correct site. At the end, a $250 fee was requested. Is that how much it costs to do this? Do you know that off the top of your head the first time you do this? Probably not. If the site hadn't also offered to set us up with the Secretary of State for an additional $149, which we had already done (for less!) the red flag may not have gone up in time. It turns out that the first search result was a company doing this paperwork on your behalf. Essentially the exact form we filled out on the irs.gov website. It said we would get the number quickly - within 24-48 hours - and we had heard this was possible. However, after finding the correct site, we found out it is FREE and INSTANT. So, how can you avoid the obvious traps companies are setting to "help" you by taking money for things that are actually free?

1. Always ensure the URL for the site you are looking for (particularly when conducting business with state and government entities) is correct. See the two examples below.

The correct site:

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online

versus the scammer site:

https://irs.usa-taxid.com

Most state and governmental agencies will have the correct .gov or similar suffix. Not typically a .com. We are based in Georgia, so Georgia.gov (or Atlanta.gov etc.) are the sites we used to get our State licenses set up.

We hope this helps as you venture forth in your small business quest, knowing that in the beginning, every dollar really matters!