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Consumers are not the only ones being targeted by scams these days.  Scam artists are also targeting small business owners.

What are these scam artists up to now?

We've heard everything from:

• Phone scams - where the scammer poses as an established vendor, and tries to get the business to buy worthless products, switch phone companies, or subscribe to unwanted services.

• Spam e-mails offering questionable web page design.

• Scam artists who show up in person, claiming to be affiliated with a well known vendor, who then try to get the business to change their phone service.

How do you know if it's a scam?

Although these scam artists are getting more clever, some of the red flags include,

• The scammer lacks a business card or photo ID during their visit.

• They seem to be in a hurry and use high pressure sales tactics to try to get you to agree to something without taking time to think.

• The deal sounds too good to be true.

What should you do if you are contacted by a suspected scam artist?

• Do not agree to anything unless you have the information in writing, and that you have taken time to check things out with a phone number or address that you know to be legitimate.

• Do not say "yes" over the phone. Some scam artists have been known to record the yes answer and then fraudulently insert this yes answer to questions that the business never agreed to.

• Report suspicious activity to police, business associations and consumer organizations.

The more people who know, the less successful these scam artists will be.