More and more people are setting themselves up as professionals with nothing but a Facebook page, or a post within a Facebook selling group. Even those that want to make more of an impression can buy cheap business cards and promotional items online. Add a magnetic sign for your car, or an embroidered polo shirt featuring a company logo, and you’d be surprised how many people you can convince. For scammers, it’s perfect. For the average person, it’s a disaster.
How often do you open the door to a door-to-door salesperson asking you to sign up to donate to charity, take on some free solar panels or consider cavity wall insulation? Can you really trust them? Would you hand over your bank details, or invite them into your home? Would you be convinced just by a printed leaflet, a logo on a shirt or a business card that’s been waved in front of your face?
How We’re Fooled by Fake Businesses
UK residents might be more cynical and risk-averse than ever before, but they’re still inherently trusting. Particularly if you’re caught off guard, you may give out more personal information than you’re actually comfortable giving. Elderly people are usually the most vulnerable, but people of all ages can be easily caught out.
What happens on a personal level is also the same in business. Often we’ll strike deals with other companies without looking into their history and considering whether or not they can be trusted. They might take our money and run, or they might take our services or products and then disappear when it’s time to pay the invoice. How can you be sure that the company that you’re dealing with isn’t an overnight setup using a fake address and phone number?
Vetting and Background Checks
For our corporate clients, background checks and vetting are vitally important before new business contracts are agreed. Preston private investigators can look into a company’s history and financial position, reducing risk and providing peace of mind.
Call our private investigators on 01772 334 700 to discuss background checks that could save you from making risky business decisions.