These days everyone is on alert for scams. It has become impossible for you to keep up on all the potential dangers. New businesses are at high risk and have to guard their company information. Protecting their customers as well as themselves.

In 2002, my brother and I embarked on a new business venture, a cat litter box, This product is our own creation and has begun to sell really well throughout North America. But with growing popularity comes increased risk. We began to notice that every now and then we would receive an inquiry from someone claiming to be interested in purchasing inventory. Most often they were located in India or Australia or some place like that. Never from North America!

Fraudulent parties looking to prey on unsuspecting businesses, we have received large cheques in the mail and credit cards. All turned out to be a scam.

Here are some precise things to look for if you suspect a fraudulent transaction.

1. Are they asking to provide there own carrier? The majority of business owners, (unless extremely large) will ask your company to ship. Not provide their own.
2. Are they sending all the money up front. Usual business practice is to with hold a percentage of the payment: to be sure the shipment is received in good order.
3. Are they asking you to pay their third party shipper through an "instant money transfer". Most of the places that transfer money do not offer any protection to the sender. How do you know who is really receiving the money.
4. Did they order a large quantity of product without even seeing it?
These are a few of the warning signs that the transaction you are involved in, may be a scam.

In our case, the purchasing party responded with short responses and very little information about their company. They ordered a large quantity of the product and said they would pay and provide the shipping. The scam was; after providing payment (a cheque), they instructed me to deposit the cheque and withdraw the cost of shipping in cash. A number determined by them. Then the instructions were to make payment to the shipper through a third party cash transfer centre. The freight money actually was being sent back to them. They would never pick up the order, no shipper would come. And the cheque? It of course would bounce. They banks will not reimburse you for such fraudulent transactions; and you are out the cost paid for shipping, when the cheque is reversed. Luck for us, we did not make the transfer!

Business owners beware! Businesses, especially small ones are preyed on. The pet industry is not excluded, but we continue to strive for safe business transactions between ourselves and pet owners.