SECURTIY AND FRAUD ALERT!!!!

This article is intended to all individuals that work in the online marketing and website design fields but may apply to other companies.

There is a scam going around, where an individual will contact you via text and ask if you can handle a website design for a new company. They then proceed to send you an email with the specs. The email will read similar to this:

{Here is the job details

i have small scale business which i want to turn into large scale business now it located in PA and the company is based on importing and exporting of Agriculture products such as Kola Nut, Gacillia Nut and Cocoa so i need a best of the best layout design for it. Can you handle that for me ?. so i need you to check out this site but i need something more perfect than this if its possible. (website address).... the site would only be informational, so i need you to give me an estimate based on the site i gave you to check out, the estimate should include hosting and i want the same page as the site i gave you to check out and i have a private project consultant, he has the text content and the logos for the site.

Note:

1. I want the same number of pages with the example site i gave you to check excluding videos and blogs.

2. I want only English language

3. I don't have a domain yet but i want the domain name as websiteaddress.com

4. you will be updating the site for me.

5. i will be proving the images, logos and content for the site.

6. i want the site up and running before ending of next month.

7. My budget is $3000 to $4000}

The scam comes when you received payment. Without getting into the complexities of the payment part of the scam since they change up how they handle it each time. Please follow the following security advice. 

When taking credit cards always make sure the name on the card provided is the same as the name of the person who you are dealing with. If you use a virtual terminal, verify the payment after it clears. If the company sends a check please make sure it clears your account before you spend the funds. Most of the time you will know in 5 days of less but it can take up to 3 weeks to fully know if a check bounces. Lastly NEVER pay anyone who is not a direct vendor of your company, even if the story sounds legitimate.

Last piece of advice, it is perfectly acceptable and legal to ask a company for their complete contact information and Tax ID when doing business with them. By asking for this information you will create a layer of protection between you and fraudulent activities. Please know that a company many not feel comfortable providing a Tax ID, which is acceptable. As part of a concerted effort, my company Sun Sign Designs, Inc., runs background checks on all vendors, consultants, partners and clients we work with. This is how we know we can maintain our compliances, and also mitigate fraud.

If you do received a fraudulent message like this, please contact the authorities. We can not stop fraud unless they know. Most banks have a security team to also help assist and guide you in stopping fraudulent crime. Or you can report to - WWW.IC3.gov which is the cyber security reporting website for the federal government ( I have reported several cyber scam attempts through this site).

Please remember cyber security starts with you!

Lastly, please share this information in your social channels so that others are aware and alert of these types of scams.