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Small Biz Geek

Small Biz Geek

Small Business Design, Marketing & Technology Journal

Solving small business design, marketing & tech problems

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Watch Our for Scams & Fraud!

These blog posts cover the subject of scams and fraud in the context of small business and the self-employed, either by directly reporting real examples of crime or by providing general warnings on how to protect oneself.

Scam Poetry: The Time I Was Recruited to the Cult of Amway ⚠️

Published: January 27, 2024; Updated: June 11, 2025 Filed Under: Audio, Marketing, Sales, Scams

Illustration of a speaker holding a microphone on stage at an MLM conference

18 years ago I was recruited to what is perhaps the most dangerous modern cult freely operating in over 100 countries with protection from the USA’s FTC and masquerading as a “business”.

Looking for Online Work? Don’t Fall for this Fake Hays Recruitment WhatsApp Scam ⚠️

Published: June 18, 2023; Updated: March 5, 2024 Filed Under: Scams

Hays Recruitment Job Scammer on WhatsApp

As the cost of living crisis takes hold, determined WhatsApp job scammers impersonating Hays recruitment consultants are advertising fake jobs.

Cream of the Crap: How Fake Reviews, Bad Businesses and Dangerous Products Rise to the Top 💣

Published: January 21, 2023; Updated: September 25, 2024 Filed Under: Internet, Miscellaneous, Scams

Fake reviews and bogus ratings

The UK and USA consumer market regulators plan to take action against the dangers of bogus ratings, but how did fake online reviews gain such a foothold?

Exposed: The Hong Kong Investment “Fraud Recovery” Scammer Deceiving Victims 🤑

Published: October 12, 2021; Updated: March 5, 2024 Filed Under: Scams, Video

WhatsApp message investment scam

Last year I used Tinder to investigate romance scammers tugging at the purse strings of besotted would-be partners. After publishing the findings, a Hong Kong woman offered to help victims reclaim lost monies. What happened next was sad and exhausting.

Chinese Tinder Profiles Are Using Photos of Pretty Girls to Scam “Investors” 💋

Published: November 6, 2020; Updated: March 5, 2024 Filed Under: Scams, Social

Graphic illustration of Tinder and WhatsApp conversations on a smartphone with investment spam

Fed up in lock down? Looking to make friends online? Need money? Beware. Ruthless individuals use Tinder to lay honey traps with the intent of committing financial fraud, mostly upon Westerners.

Magazine Advertising Scam: Rogues Impersonate Crime Prevention Officers 🤥

Published: June 12, 2018; Updated: May 19, 2025 Filed Under: Marketing, Miscellaneous, Scams

Crime Prevention Magazine Fraudsters Impersonate Police and Telephoning Biz Owners to Sell Advertising

Fraudsters are impersonating the police and telephoning self-employed people to sell advertising in a fake crime prevention magazine. They claim to be partnered with Trading Standards.

Magazine Advertising Scam: Bogus Children’s Cancer Charity Misleading Small Businesses 🤥

Published: March 13, 2018; Updated: August 28, 2023 Filed Under: Marketing, Miscellaneous, Scams

Kids for Life Bogus Charity Magazine Cover

Don’t be misled by this classic magazine advertising scam in which small businesses seeking exposure are hoodwinked by ruthless rogues claiming to be running a real charity. This particular operation is called “Kids for Life”. It was heavily criticised on an edition of BBC Radio 4’s “You and Yours”.

Stolen Credit Card Email Scam Targets Small Businesses and Service Providers 💳

Published: January 30, 2018; Updated: August 29, 2023 Filed Under: Internet, Legal, Miscellaneous, Scams, Security

Hand holding a credit card in front of a laptop computer

Get wise to this socially-engineered credit card fraud operation that hinges on the recipient invoicing someone who is not who they say they are for a project that doesn’t exist.

How Safe Is Your Password from the $450 Billion Cybercrime Industry? 😈

Published: September 12, 2017; Updated: March 5, 2024 Filed Under: Internet, Scams, Security

Cyber criminal wearing a hooded top

How strong is your password? In 2016, cyber criminals profited $450 billion and show no signs of slowing. We need to be on a war footing.

Warning: Dubious Web Industry “Regulator” Selling Questionable Business Leads 🥸

Published: November 15, 2016; Updated: May 19, 2025 Filed Under: Legal, Marketing, Scams, Web Development

Dishonest businessman with fingers crossed behin back

Hold on to your lunch money. There’s a UK internet business lead generator outfit operating under false pretenses and making misleading claims…

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  • Exposed: The Hong Kong Investment “Fraud Recovery” Scammer Deceiving Victims 🤑
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