A key part of running a small business in this day and age is managing your social media presence and account. It used to be that your physical storefront was the face of your brand, but for many it is now their social media pages and websites.
Just as it is important to post regularly on social media to build your brand, it is equally important to respond to messages and questions people may message you directly.
However, your private messages on social media are the breeding ground for one of the most popular and dangerous scams to watch out for. If you have a Facebook page, you have probably noticed an influx of messages from accounts presenting themselves as official accounts with Facebook.
CBS Chicago has highlighted this problem in a recent article, where a local artist fell victim to the scam. The imposter account claimed there was an issue with her small business page, and threatened to delete her account immediately unless she provided her login information. Just minutes later, the scammer logged into her account and racked up charges on her business account.
According to the article, 73% of small businesses have suffered a cybersecurity attack in the last year.
Many of the messages will start the same or have the same script they follow - this is an easy way to identify the scam. They pretend they are working with Facebook and are sending you a message warning you that you have something wrong with your account or page, such as a copyright violation or suspicious activity, and that your account will be deleted if no action is taken.
According to James Lee, Chief Operating Officer of the Identity Theft Resource Center, “the number of small businesses being attacked has grown tremendously over the past three years”.
Lee further states that 40% of small businesses have lost revenue in a cyberattack, and that the best thing you can do is to work with an outside advisor to help stay vigilant and make the right decisions for your online presence.
In general, always air on the side of caution when asked to give your login information or personal details to any account.
