Scam Awareness Guide – Rise Online Advertising

Scammers frequently target businesses by phone, email, and text — often impersonating Google, vendors, or government agencies. This guide covers the most common scams our team encounters and exactly what to do when you get one.

Common Scams to Know

Google Business Listing Robocall

An automated or live caller claims to be from the "Verified Listing Department" or "Google Business Support." They say there's a keyword issue, a flag in their system, or that your listing is at risk of being removed — and urge you to call back immediately.

Google never cold-calls businesses about their listing "Verified Listing Department" is not a real Google department Urgency pressure — "before end of today" Callback number is not a Google number (1-650-253-0000 is real Google) Google communicates through your Google Business Profile dashboard or email

Fake Invoice / Vendor Billing

An email or PDF arrives that looks like an invoice from a known vendor (hosting, software, ads platform). The bank details or payment link have been swapped to route money to the scammer.

Unexpected invoice for a service you didn't order Payment instructions changed from previous invoices Sender email domain is slightly misspelled (e.g., g00gle.com) Urgency — "overdue," "final notice," "account suspended"

Domain / Website Renewal Scare

A letter or email warns that your domain or website listing is about to expire, demanding payment to "renew." These often look official but are not from your real registrar.

Comes by postal mail or from an unfamiliar sender Price is much higher than your actual renewal cost Does not match your registrar's name (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, etc.) Asks for credit card payment via unfamiliar link

Tech Support / "Your Computer Has a Virus" Call

A caller claims to be from Microsoft, Apple, or an IT provider and says your computer is infected. They ask you to install remote access software so they can "fix" it — then steal data or credentials.

Microsoft and Apple never call you unsolicited Asks you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or similar tools Wants you to read out a code or give remote access May reference a specific error code to sound legitimate

The Golden Rules

🔍

Verify independently

Look up the company's real number and call them directly — never use the number a caller gives you.

🛑

Urgency = red flag

Legitimate companies don't demand action by end of day. Pressure is a manipulation tactic.

💳

Never pay without approval

Any unexpected payment request — no matter how official it looks — must go through Tiffany first.

🔒

Never share login credentials

No legitimate vendor or support rep will ever ask for your password over the phone or email.

What To Do vs. What To Avoid

Do This

Hang up immediately on suspicious calls
Screenshot suspicious emails or texts
Forward suspicious emails to Tiffany
Check your Google Business Profile directly at business.google.com
Ask a teammate if you're unsure
Block the number after hanging up

Don't Do This

Call back numbers given by suspicious callers
Click links in unexpected invoices or renewal notices
Give remote access to anyone who called you unsolicited
Pay any invoice without confirming with Tiffany
Share passwords, codes, or account info on a call
Feel embarrassed — these scams fool smart people

Got One? Report It.

Forward suspicious emails or share call details with Tiffany right away — even if you're not sure. When in doubt, always ask before acting. You can also report scam calls to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov to help protect other businesses.