Fears and concerns about the coronavirus outbreak are providing new opportunities for scammers intent on taking advantage of small businesses.

The criminals offer hope in the form of loans and grants that many small business owners so desperately need to stay afloat.

"If you give out personal or business information that's confidential, it's out there. We urge people to be very careful when they open anything or give information. Any email information coming from the SBA will come from accounts ending with .gov - you've got to be careful," says Marsha Gordon, who heads the Business Council of Westchester.

Jeremy McLellan owns Bread and Brine in Hastings on Hudson, and like many restaurants, he's relying on carry out service.

"It's sad, it's hard enough to get a real loan, as many small business owners are going through now, to hear that people are out there taking advantage of the situation is sickening actually," he says.

Officials warn that if you're contacted by phone or email by anyone offering you a small business loan or a grant, don't take the bait - more than likely, it's a scam.

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