Did you know that 1 in 10 American adults will fall victim to a scam or fraud every year? Around 50% of people who are contacted by scammers engage with them, while the rest will immediately become suspicious and ignore the scammer.
Are you worried about getting scammed by a corporation? You are probably wondering how to check if a company is legit.
Before entering into any business transaction or sending money to an unknown company, you want to make sure that the company is legit. Read on to find out 4 tips you can use to protect yourself.
1. Check the Company Website
The first thing you need to do before entering into any business transaction is to check out the company website. Unfortunately, it’s very easy to develop a website nowadays. But you can still use common sense to take a deeper into the company website.
Check for grammatical errors and typos. Take a look at the address on file, and whether it’s in the USA. Many scammers tend to be located offshore for tax and regulatory purposes.
2. Check Company Reviews
Online reviews are a great way of seeing other people’s experiences with the company. The company may not be a scam, but you may have trouble getting refunds or getting the product. Customers may have had trouble contacting customer service when something goes wrong.
Are you wondering how to check company reviews? A good idea is to check out online reviews including Google reviews. Another way to access online reviews is to find a website to check company reviews like Comparison Genius.
Comparison Genius does the research on your behalf and provides comprehensive reviews, so you can get a full picture before you make a decision. Rather than relying on gut instinct or a cool website, you can actually get real in-depth information so you know the company is legit.
3. Contact Your Local Chamber of Commerce
The local Chamber of Commerce may have more information about the company. The website of the company may have a fake number or address, but you can double-check that information with the Chamber of Commerce. If nothing else, they may be able to conduct their own investigation.
4. Check for Anomalies
You want to look at any new company that you haven’t heard of carefully. In this social media age, most companies have a strong online presence. If they don’t, then you want to make sure to do your due diligence.
Grammatical errors and typos are just some of the anomalies to think about. Understand the payment method and see whether it’s secured or a familiar process. If they are asking for banking details in a format you haven’t seen before, ask questions and think twice before inputting your data.
Now You Know How to Check If a Company Is Legit
Follow these 4 tips on how to check if a company is legit in the USA and you can protect yourself from scams. Check out the company website and online reviews before you make any decision especially if it involves large sums of money.
Are you interested in learning more? Check out our blog for more articles on other ways you can protect yourself from scams and get financial advice.