In recent weeks, the agency has received a number of complaints from members of the public advising that representatives of a private entity identifying itself as “SBA,” or “SBA Online,” or “Small Business Advantage” have contacted their businesses seeking to interest them in purchasing certain commercial services allegedly offered by their organization, or in paying to become members of “SBA.”
In some instances, the callers have attempted to obtain specific financial or employee data relating to the contacted business, sometimes asking the business to confirm information the caller already has. In some cases, callers have requested specific personal data, such as social security number or mother’s maiden name of the contacted individual.
Businesses contacted by anyone claiming to represent a private entity identified as “SBA,” or an entity with a name suggestive of the Small Business Administration, are asked to contact the United States Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and to provide that office with the details of any such contact.
Such communications should be directed to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, 409 Third Street, S.W. – Seventh Floor, Washington D.C. 20416, or (202) 205-6586 (telephone), or (202) 205-7382 (fax), or OIG@SBA.GOV (e-mail).