Plugging All The Holes: This Seemingly Insignificant Scam Could Be Hurting Your Business
The ultimate pursuit of any business, regardless of what industry it finds itself in, is that of profit. It’s an unsavory thing to say, but it is also the unassailable truth.
At the very core of it all, there are only two primary methodologies to achieve the ultimate goal — to maximize revenue-generating assets and to minimize as much resource drains as you can.
If you’re running a business that focuses heavily on production or online selling, then you’re definitely going to be shipping and receiving various items. An often-overlooked resource drain can be found in the form of courier and freighter scams. Both of these are especially damaging to businesses that sell high-value items.
No business owner wants to be told that their 1,500-dollar item was “lost in shipping” and that their shipping insurance only covers half that amount. It’s a frightful scenario to think of, but it does happen. And you don’t want to be on the losing end when it does happen. So, how exactly can you prevent such a disaster?
The short answer? A bit of vigilance and common sense.
But that isn’t the answer you want to hear. This is:
Do Your Research
At this point, it’s probably ad nauseam to encounter this “solution” in almost every anti-fraud article that you come across on the internet. And this rightly so, because the first line of defense will always be intelligence. Make sure you know about the company that you’re dealing with.
Determine their years of service, check the permits and certificates that state that they are duly recognized and allowed by the state to conduct business.
Another vital piece of information to ascertain when you’re looking to transact with a shipping company is their years of service and whether or not their partners are reputable.
A prime example of a reliable shipping partner can be found in this freight factoring company, TBS Factoring. If the old adage is true, then you’re definitely going to be able to tell a lot about the shipping company you deal with just by the partners they work with.
Verify Shipping Fees
Lower shipping fees may not always be the best way to go, especially if they seem too good to be true.
What you might save by being an Uncle Scrooge may cost you dearly later on if you overlook details that should be readily available on any company’s website.
There’s a real danger in having your expenses inflate to absurd amounts when scammers take you on a wild goose chase of re-routes. It’s simple, really. Ascertain (the prices), pay (your dues), and track (your package).
Be Wary of Scam Emails
Those who are expecting packages are especially vulnerable to email scams because of the perceived legitimacy of the emails.
Gone are the days when it would be incredibly easy to tell scam emails from those that are authentic. There was a time when elementary-grade grammar would be a glaring error to find in a scam email.
Nowadays? Because of the advent of technology, scammers are now better equipped to replicate genuine emails from couriers. A common example of these is the classic delivery failure update.
Taking a few extra minutes to use the official package tracker on the courier’s website could save you a lot of money and heartache. Vigilance and common sense, friends. Vigilance and common sense.
Have you been hit by this email scam?