Beware Of Scams

In a recent meeting with a new client prospect, the business owner mentioned an "official notice" that he had received from the State of Minnesota.  The notice was a call to action and required that he fill out a form and submit it by mail, along with a check for services.  He was all set to do just that when he was referred to me by a friend of his who just happens to be a Safe Shield client.  Fortunately, he contacted us before taking any action and I believe that he is extremely glad he did.

You see, he was very surprised to learn that the State of Minnesota does not provide the services in question, nor do they send out solicitations.  The company that had sent him the notice is merely one of many companies who use less than ethical tactics to try to make money.  They realize that if they make their soliciations appear official, many people will just assume that it is a legitimate notification from the government.

We have a number of clients who report receiving these types of notices each year and I am always appreciative when they contact us to verify whether or not they are legitimate, prior to taking any action.  Typically these notices will imply that they are from the Secretary of State's office, or in some extreme cases even the Federal Government.  As I always tell people, the Secretary of State's office does not send out solicitations.

While this may not be new information to some of you, it is still a good reminder.  As many of you already know, unethical business practices including credit fraud and identity theft have never posed a greater threat to business owners than they do today.  There are many people out there who would gladly take the money or business that you have worked hard for.

As 2012 comes to an end and we all gear up for 2013, I want to encourage you to be vigilant in operating your businesses.  Look to your trusted advisors to provide you with proper guidance and, as always, please feel free to contact Safe Shield if you receive suspicious notifications or other questions arise.  We would love to hear from you!