The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has alerted the Better Business Bureau about a scam that could potentially affect small businesses. Letters, on what appears to be SBA letterhead, are being sent to companies requesting that they provide the SBA with the name of their bank account and account number in order to qualify for federal tax rebates.
The fraudulent letters, sent to small businesses all across the country, advise recipients that they may be eligible for a tax rebate under the Economic Stimulus Act. The letters claim the SBA is assessing the businesses’ eligibility for such a rebate.
These letters have not been sent by or authorized by the SBA. Both the SBA and your BBB strongly urge that no one respond.
This scheme is similar to e-mail scams often referred to as “phishing” that seek to gather personal data and financial account information, thus enabling another party to access an individual’s bank account, or steal one’s identity.
The SBA is working with the SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate the scam. The Office of Inspector General asks that anyone who receives such a letter report it to the OIG Fraud Line at (800) 767-0385, or e-mail at
OIGHotline@sba.gov.