The March Group Online Fraud and Scam Awareness

The March Group helps business owners avoid fraud and scam victimization though careful screening of prospective buyers and an analysis of the company’s online marketing vulnerability.

Most of us have learned that the anonymity of the internet age is fertile ground for fraud.  The next few years will be pivotal for business owners as they and the online search engine industry come to grips doing business in the digital age.

Online reputation management attacks are the biggest silent threat to a small or mid-sized business today.  The March Group has seen first hand the damage an online fraud campaign can be for a business and the firm is committed to protecting its clients through awareness.

Online defamation is a burgeoning concern, not just for business owners and M&A clients, but for individuals as well. The industry is growing exponentially and it is rife with fraud, extortion and other ways to lose or waste your hard-earned marketing dollars.  The beauty of Google is that it seeks to connect users to the content it seeks as quickly as possible.  The double-edged sword is that Google values user generated content more than other content.  Most user generated content online today is not subject to traditional media rules of verification.

The most telling illustration of this brave new world involves an attack on one of the powerful people in the world, the President of the United States.  For most of George W. Bush’s presidency, if you Googled “miserable failure” the White House profile page of GW showed up right at the top of the results page.  Even with his vast resources, he could not make this go away for years.

If the President of the greatest country in the world wasn’t able to control it, how will you?

The March Group Advises Business Owners on Identifying Scams

Check out these tips for avoiding a scam!

All businesses including The March Group rely on third party services to optimize their business. We can’t be an expert in all things related to our businesses. Strong vendor relationships are important in all aspects of outsourcing: everything from IT and web programming to coffee service and construction.

With so many service businesses in the marketplace you can never be too selective. Identifying legitimate businesses from scams are no exception.

1. Referrals: Ask colleagues, coworkers, friends and neighbors for referrals. No business is perfect but sometimes the devil you know vs. the one you don’t know can be better. Plus, detailed feedback can help you manage the provider’s weaknesses.
2. Internet: The world’s fastest growing resource. A good website includes location addresses, customer testimonials and very descriptive product offering.
3. References: Follow through on what you read! Visit locations, call telephone numbers, talk to former customers. Go a little deeper than believing everything you read.
4. Ask detailed questions: Don’t be afraid to be thorough. Make sure you understand exactly what is being done on your behalf.
5. Contracts: Go through every contract with a fine toothed comb. Ensure the items that you are requesting are specific and included in writing. If the provider fails to deliver, your contract will be the first resource legal counsel relies on for justification.
6. Use the BBB: Utilize the Better Business Bureau! If you a company has been in business long enough chances are they’ve had a complaint or two. Third parties like the Better Business Bureau verify complaints and work with the business and consumer to come to a resolution. Having insight to how professionally a dispute was resolved can be a great indicator of service to come.

It’s not easy trusting an important project to a stranger and it’s important to bring on the best vendors as possible.

Remember to take complaints with a grain of salt, and rely on your instincts.

If The March Group can be of service to you, visit us on the web http://www.marchgroup.com or call us directly 866-663-5806.