Keeping your eyes open for scams is crucial when you are a young entrepreneur. Unfortunately, many young entrepreneurs tend to trust others blindly. A scammer will show you impressive credentials and latch on to your trust. If you don’t watch out for this, you’ll soon become a victim. Check the credentials of every business associate before putting your faith in them. Public records are invaluable and can help you identify a scammer.
Unsolicited emails
When receiving unsolicited emails from potential employers, it is wise to check the source to ensure that the email was not sent by a scammer. This type of unsolicited email can be anything from an envelope stuffing job to keeping the books for an international company. Although many legitimate job search websites provide lists of available positions, scammers can take advantage of this vulnerability by harvesting e-mail addresses and selling them to unscrupulous companies. Then, victims pay for access to these lists, which are often irrelevant or outdated.
Verifying credentials
For entrepreneurs, verifying credentials is crucial to protecting themselves from scams. Businesses are required to navigate three levels of government bureaucracy to obtain their business license. Using a self-sovereign identity platform allows businesses to issue their own digital credential and others can verify it. Self-sovereign identities have multiple uses, including verification of identity and financial transactions. They also offer an online identity verification system.
Avoiding ‘official-looking’ documents from trade directories
If you run a small business, it’s easy to get contacted by telephone directory scammers. These scammers use the name of a legitimate trade directory to trick unsuspecting victims into giving out financial and business details. They also include a disclaimer in case you are unsure whether they are legitimate. However, you shouldn’t panic – it’s usually a simple case of mistaking the name of a telephone directory for an official one.
Fear of missing out (FOMO) can lead to bad investment decisions
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a natural human response. Our cavemen ancestors certainly experienced this fear and it was probably instrumental in ensuring their survival. It is the same underlying mechanism that drove early humans into the caves. When we experience FOMO, we often make poor investment decisions. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid falling victim to FOMO.
First of all, you should know that FOMO affects everyone, even people with money. We tend to compare ourselves with our peers and this can lead us to make poor investment decisions. We should not try to keep up with the Joneses because it can cause us to overspend. Instead, try to live a life that is not influenced by FOMO. Instead, do things that are truly beneficial for your life.
Second, FOMO can make you prone to trend chasing. Fear of missing out causes people to flock to an investment. They might even use their credit cards to make it happen. Then again, the same can happen with entrepreneurship. You may end up spending money you do not have, only to end up with a mountain of debt. Finally, FOMO can also make you overconfident.
The most successful entrepreneurs understand that they cannot have everything. They identify a few worthy goals and pursue them with passion. As long as they do not allow FOMO to take hold of them, they will be successful. This can even help entrepreneurs avoid FOMO. By avoiding FOMO, they will be able to focus on a single goal and reap the rewards without worrying about missing out on anything else.
Beware of phishing scams
Beware of phishing scams – Whether you’re a business owner or an aspiring one, the internet is full of fake sites and emails trying to get you to reveal sensitive information. Phishing attacks use social media contacts and email addresses to lure unsuspecting individuals into giving up their confidential information. Many experts believe that they are able to trick as many as five percent of people. Many victims do not hesitate to hand over their personal information to perpetrators.
Usually, the scammers will attempt to establish an association with a respected organisation or individual. They will use references to recent legislation or even new government regulations to entice their victims to part with money. In some cases, they may even use a celebrity’s endorsement or reference to a large company to try to persuade you to make a payment. While it is unlikely that the scammers will ask for any money up front, it is better to take caution.
A phishing scam starts with a malicious user sending out millions of bogus emails. They look like official government sites or legitimate businesses. They also include convincing details about your personal history from social networking websites. The goal is to trick you into providing sensitive financial information. They usually want your credit card number or other sensitive information in return for money. So, how do you protect yourself? Follow these tips to avoid being victimized by phishing emails.
Beware of phishing scams as a business owner. Many scams target businesses, consumers and private individuals. Regardless of size, every business is vulnerable. These scams can result in losses ranging from hundreds to millions of pounds. So, be vigilant when handling emails from suspicious companies. And remember to follow the safety and security settings on your computer. Don’t let anyone take advantage of your vulnerable business.
