Hey there, small business heroes! 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️ If you think your biggest battle is juggling the books and keeping the coffee machine running, think again! Lurking in the shadows are scammers just waiting to send you a bill for something you never ordered. Let’s dive into the world of fake invoices and how you can protect your business from these sneaky tricksters.

The Scam Playbook: Fake Invoices 101

Picture this: You’re sipping your morning brew, ready to conquer the day, when BAM, an invoice lands on your desk. It’s demanding payment for tech support, domain registration, or even SEO services. You scratch your head. “Did we order this?” you wonder. The invoice looks legit. Heck, it might even have a big-name company on it, like “Geek Squad.” And to crank up the pressure, it’s marked as “past due!” 😱

These scammers are banking on the fact that whoever’s handling your finances will just pay up without a second thought. Sometimes they even send these invoices via email, which is really a phishing scam in disguise, trying to worm its way into your business’s data and networks. Sneaky, right?

Don’t Be a Sitting Duck: Protect Your Business!

Here’s how you can stay ahead of the scammers and keep your business safe:

  1. Train Your Team: Make sure everyone knows to give invoices the ol’ side-eye. A little skepticism can go a long way!

  2. Set Clear Procedures: Have clear steps for approving purchases and invoices. Only pay vendors you’ve actually worked with—no imaginary friends here!

  3. Do Your Homework: Got an invoice from a company you don’t recognize? Hit the internet! Search the company’s name with “review,” “scam,” or “complaint” to see if others have been duped.

  4. Report the Scammers: If you get a suspicious email, forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. And don’t forget to tell the FTC about any scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

  5. Stay Informed: Check out more resources at ftc.gov/SmallBusiness. Knowledge is power, after all!

Remember, dear business warriors, staying vigilant and informed is your best defense against these invoicing villains. So, keep that shield up and those invoices scrutinized!

For more details and insights, check out the original article here: Original Article URL.

Original article: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/05/run-small-business-pay-your-bills-not-scammers