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Best Practices for Business Fraud Prevention and Being a Scam-Savvy Consumer

The age of communication and information overload has brought with it a stealth and significant risk: a seemingly endless supply of phishing, fraud, and scams. We’ve all gotten – and hopefully ignored or reported – emails about an unexpected inheritance or robotic phone messages about an extended car warranty. But, when it comes to operating a business, the stakes can be even higher.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker℠ reports showed tactics involving the impersonation of executives, data breaches, ransomware, fake consultants, vendor impersonations, and many more. And, in 2025, the global average cost of a data breach was $4.4 million, according to the Cost of a Data Breach Report by IBM.

North Shore Bank takes fraud prevention very seriously and is committed to providing current and frequent communication about best practices for businesses to protect their reputations and their bottom line – from both internal and external risks. Keep the following in mind to help prevent fraud against your business or falling prey to scammers.

External Risk Factors: 

  1. Scammers succeed by presenting themselves as known or trustworthy. Don’t always believe the “from” name on an email you receive or the name that pops up on the caller ID. Today, it is all too easy for scammers to create official-looking logos and accounts that look legitimate.
  2. Urgency is a red flag, as is the use of fear or intimidation. When you feel pressured to make a quick decision, it’s a good sign to pause and do the necessary research to determine whether a request is legitimate.
  3. Be wary of any type of transaction – a wire transfer, reloadable card or gift card, special pricing and offers that seem too good to be true – that doesn’t have a mechanism for tracking or customer service.

 

Add Positive Pay as a Powerful Tool to Prevent Check & ACH Fraud


Internal Best Practices: 

  1. The crime of embezzlement far pre-dates the information age, but technological advances have created additional channels of opportunity. It’s as important as ever to follow proven practices of dual control and/or separation of duties when it comes to managing the books.
  2. Train employees not to send passwords and sensitive info by email, even if the request seems to come from someone you know. Similarly, use secure platforms to share sensitive data rather than sending it via email.
  3. Have practices in place that ensure a thorough review of all invoices before payment. Make sure goods or services were legitimately ordered and received before making payment.
  4. Request and share resources from the Federal Trade Commission to educate team members and keep fraud prevention top of mind.

For decades, North Shore Bank has helped business customers survive, grow, and thrive through all kinds of ups and downs, from recessions to pandemics and beyond. Due to fraud, businesses have experienced major losses, and the bank considers risk mitigation and fraud prevention as important to our clients’ daily needs as any other part of their full financial picture.

While fraud and scams seem to be here to stay, knowledge is power, and information is protection. Rest assured, your dedicated team of business banking advisors is always just a click or call away to help ensure your best fraud prevention and protection measures are in place.

FAQs

Yes, you can easily schedule an appointment at any of our offices or with one of our Mortgage Loan Officers through our online scheduling tool.

Contact North Shore Bank's Customer Support by email or by phone at 877-672-2265

Visit our branch locator to find a North Shore Bank office, video teller, or ATM near you.

To help you stay informed, view North Shore Bank’s resources about Identity Theft Prevention & Protection.

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