In the News: Scammers Using AI to Target Small Business Owners

0
57

In this week's edition of Small Business Breakdown, our panel of experts discuss the impact of fraudsters using artificial intelligence, particularly the impact on small business owners.

A new survey from Nationwide showed how scammers are now using AI to harass small business owners. Our panel talks about the inevitability of this trend and how to avoid being scammed by the next generation.

New panel member Shashi Bellamkonda shares a unique answer he uses to combat these scammers.

Find out what that is and what else our panel thinks in this latest episode of Small Business Breakdown:

And don't forget to check out all of this week's other headlines in our small business news roundup…

Michigan businesses are encouraged to apply for an employee training grant fund

Small businesses in some parts of Michigan have the opportunity to receive grants to help them train their employees. Michigan works! West Central is now accepting applications for its Going PRO Talent Fund, offering local businesses the opportunity to reimburse employee training costs.

Nationwide survey shows a quarter of small business owners are targeted by AI-driven scams

A recent Nationwide survey found that a quarter of small business owners (SBOs) in the U.S. have fallen victim to AI-driven scams in the past year. These scams, often using generative AI for email, voice or video impersonations of senior employees, have left many small businesses vulnerable to fraud.

GoDaddy survey shows consumers are prioritizing savings over convenience

A recent GoDaddy survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers revealed how much consumers value cost savings over convenience. 80% of respondents said saving money is more important than making shopping easier.

Iowa City launches grant program to support local small businesses

Iowa City has announced a new grant program, the Targeted Small Business Development Grant Program, designed to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses. According to Corridor Business Journal, this initiative provides up to $5,000 in funding, business coaching and technical assistance to help business owners overcome growth challenges.

SBA will host the 11th annual National Veterans Small Business Week November 11-15

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that it will host the 11th annual National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) from November 11-15, 2024. This week-long celebration will include both in-person and virtual events nationwide to honor and support veteran-owned small businesses.

Are you intentionally withdrawing from your business or are you just letting it go?

The closer I get to retirement, the more I ask myself this exact question. Can I retire intentionally or should I just walk away? This week on the Small Business Radio Show, I talked about it with Zachary Larsen, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and founding partner of Intentgen Financial Partners.

Canva introduces new tools, APIs and premium apps program

Canva announced a range of new tools, APIs and the launch of a Premium Apps program at the Canva Extend event. These updates are intended to give developers more options and expand the ability to build on the Canva platform.

New research from Constant Contact reveals inflation concerns ahead of the 2024 holiday season for small businesses

Constant Contact recently released its latest Small Business Now report, revealing that 89 percent of small businesses worldwide have felt the impact of inflation as they prepare for the critical holiday selling season.

Pinterest introduces new features for remixing and sharing collages

Pinterest is introducing two new features for its popular collage tool: Collage Remixing and Collage Sharing. These updates expand the creative potential of over half a billion Pinterest users worldwide and make it easier to collaborate and share their collages across platforms.

TikTok introduces Flip Stories, adding a new level of surprise to storytelling

TikTok is expanding its creative toolbox for creators with the launch of Flip Stories, a new feature that allows creators to add a second page to their stories, unlocked by simply flipping them.

Lab owner pleads guilty in $14 million COVID-19 fraud scheme

An Illinois man has pleaded guilty to his role in a COVID-19 test fraud scheme, according to the Department of Justice. Zishan Alvi, 45, of Inverness, Illinois, owned and operated a laboratory in Chicago that performed COVID-19 testing.

Fiverr survey shows continued fear of AI among marketing executives

Fiverr recently released its second annual Marketing Executives Report from Fiverr Pro, revealing that marketing executives in the US continue to express concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their industry.

Meta introduces the Meta Quest 3S, an affordable mixed reality headset

Meta introduced its latest mixed reality headset, the Meta Quest 3S, which offers the same cutting-edge features and performance as the Meta Quest 3, but at a lower price. Priced at $299.99, the Meta Quest 3S is aimed at those new to mixed reality or looking for an affordable upgrade from previous models like the Quest and Quest 2.

John Deere is recalling compact tractors due to the risk of accidents

John Deere has ordered a recall of approximately 147,900 compact utility tractors in the United States and another 16,800 in Canada due to the risk of accidents. The recall affects John Deere 1023E, 1025R and 2025R compact tractors.

IRS introduces new process to help payroll companies and third-party payers correct employee retention credit claims

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a new supplemental claims process to help third-party payers (TPPs) and their customers resolve false claims for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC).

Meta introduces Orion: its first true augmented reality glasses

Meta has officially unveiled Orion, the company's first true augmented reality (AR) glasses, previously codenamed Project Nazare. Meta describes Orion as the most advanced AR glasses ever made, seamlessly connecting the physical and digital worlds.