06/10/2026
⚠️ Small Business Owners, Please Be Careful! ⚠️
Like every order I receive, I was excited when I was contacted about a large cookie order. We discussed the details, packaging, pickup arrangements, and the special occasion it was for. As a small business owner, every order is appreciated, and I was looking forward to serving a new customer.
After requesting a deposit through Venmo, I received an email claiming that payment had been sent. The email stated that my account needed to be "expanded" and that additional money would need to be sent before I could receive the funds.
Thankfully, I paused and checked my Venmo account directly. No payment had been received, and the email turned out to be fraudulent.
I have screenshots of the messages and emails related to this attempted scam and am sharing my experience to help raise awareness for other small business owners.
Please remember:
✅ Always verify payments directly through your payment app.
✅ Never rely solely on emails or screenshots.
✅ Never send money to receive money.
✅ Do not call phone numbers provided in suspicious emails.
✅ Do not begin work on an order until the deposit is confirmed in your account.
Thankfully, no money was lost, and I learned a valuable lesson. If sharing my experience helps even one fellow business owner avoid a scam, then it's worth posting.
Stay safe, stay vigilant, and keep protecting your hard work. 💕🍪
— Gigi's Goodies
