WEB CRAMMING is another scam that gives legitimate website designers a bad name.

This scam is usually initiated with a telephone call and the target is either an individual or a small business owner. Here’s the small business owner version:

The caller offers your business a customised website for 30 days free of charge. After the introductory period, a monthly fee of $20-$30 will apply.

Sometimes victims are told that they will be automatically billed after the 30 days is up. Other times victims are told that they won’t be billed unless they authorise the continuation of the service.

Regardless of what is said during the call, victims are automatically being billed for this ’service’ whether they authorise it or not.

This scam would be slightly less distasteful if you in fact received something of value for your money. However, the websites that are constructed are usually poorly done, full of errors and misspellings . . . and essentially useless to your business.

To guard against this scam you should:

1. Be aware that you have no obligation to pay for services you haven’t specifically ordered. If you receive a bill for a service you didn’t order, do not pay it.
2. Keep a close eye on your phone bills. This is where the charges for this type of scam may show up. Review your bills as soon as they are received and question any charges that you haven’t ordered or authorized.
3. Ask for documentation any time you purchase anything by any method (online, over the phone, in person or via fax).
4. Designate one or two staff as responsible for purchasing and restrict purchasing to these individuals.
5. Alert your staff about scams of this type and how to deal with scammers on the telephone.