09/25/2026
⚠️ SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS — SCAM WARNING! ⚠️
I wanted to share something that happened to me today because this was a new one for me, and if sharing it keeps even one person from clicking the wrong link, it’s worth it.
I received what appeared to be a perfectly normal inquiry about ordering treats for a birthday party. The person asked for my menu because they were hosting a party for their sister.
I responded with my menu, and their next email asked if I would participate in a Zoom call with the sister to discuss the theme, menu and quantities.
Nothing about that request was obviously alarming, but something in my gut told me it felt off. So before doing anything else, I Googled it.
Sure enough, there are scams that use fake meeting invitations or links to trick people into downloading malware or giving scammers access to sensitive information. 😳
I decided to test the situation without clicking anything. I replied that I would be happy to arrange a Zoom call and asked what date and time worked for them.
Instead of answering my question, they immediately sent me a Zoom meeting link.
🚩 That was all the confirmation I needed.
I did not click the link. I marked the email as spam and reported it.
I'm sharing this because I hadn't encountered this particular approach before, and the initial inquiry looked very much like a legitimate customer reaching out to a small business.
Please be careful with unexpected meeting links, even when they come after what appears to be a normal customer inquiry. If something feels off, don't click. Verify it independently or create the meeting yourself through the official app/site.
Small-business owners already have enough to keep track of without worrying about someone trying to steal our information. Please feel free to share this so other business owners know what to watch for. ❤️