Protecting Your Business From Fraud | Florida

Most Common Forms Of Business Fraud

Receive an unexpected request to send funds/payment to a new or different account.

You receive an unexpected invoice from an unknown vendor with the urgency to pay to maintain critical business operations like maintaining your website. .

Criminals will send emails that appear to be from business associates requesting ACH transfers or other sensitive information. Email requests for wire transfers or ACH transfers should always be verified by contacting the requestor using the information you have on file and not the information provided in the request.

Employees receive emails or text messages looking like it’s coming from a company executive requesting information, funds transfer, and more with a sense of urgency.

A fraudster posing as a legitimate vendor sends a check for an amount greater than the agreed amount and requests the overpayment to be wired back to them

Review the check for alterations, including forged signatures and amounts higher than expected.
Verify that the check includes an accurate bank logo and information.

Be wary of emails requesting a routine wire payment be sent to a new account.
Review ACH charges to ensure the checks have not been returned for fraud.
Monitor transactions to look for fraudulent electronic debits, credits or outbound wires.
Verify ACH payment requests received over the internet or by telephone to avoid fraudulent payments.
Avoid credit purchases from "Card Not Present" merchants or merchants that do not validate the CVV2 number on the card.

Scammers send an email posing as a representative of the IRS or state tax officials, or even a well-known business or retailer indicating that a refund is due and requires specific information to expedite processing.