Unfortunately, the pandemic has inspired scammers to figure out new ways to defraud and take advantage of individuals and organizations. With larger numbers of employees working remotely, your organization is at a higher-than-usual risk of fraud and cyber threats.
Here are seven ideas to help keep your employees and your organization safer:
- Review your anti-fraud controls. Just because there may be added difficulty around normal payment controls, don’t be tempted to make changes for the sake of convenience.
- Beware of changes announced electronically by partners, vendors, and other organizations with which you normally do business. Scammers take advantage of your willingness to help during times of crisis. Confirm with a phone call to a trusted source.
- Pay attention to an unfortunate pandemic-related increase in employee fraud. COVID-19 has caused layoffs, reduced hours, and financial stress. Typically trustworthy individuals may find themselves with the opportunity to access company funds and rationalize their fraudulent behavior.
- Don’t participate in the rash of “20-questions” style games circulating on social media. Many of these questions are the same as challenge questions for logins to secure sites. This is just data gathering for hackers.
- Don’t open unsolicited emails. Now more than ever, you will be receiving emails with persuasive subject lines about helping during the pandemic.
- Don’t click links. Even if the URL looks legitimate, it might lead to a mirrored website designed to gather information. Use a search engine to confirm the URL.
- Confirm any files you are requested to open or download. With employees working remotely, more work files will be circulated. Verify before you open an attachment or download a file.
It’s a shame that hypervigilance is required at a time like this. But taking a few extra precautions and raising fraud awareness will reduce your chances of being a victim.