19 May 2017 Businesses lost an average of $10,000 to scams in 2016 Nearly 6000 businesses reported being targeted by scams in 2016 according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s 26 February 2014 Don’t be fooled by a fake franchise SCAMwatch is warning people thinking about buying a franchise or small business to beware of exciting new franchise opportunities that may actually be scams.