Dec. 19, 2022
This paid piece is sponsored by Central Bank.
As predictably as the drop in temperature this time of year, cases of fraud for both individuals and businesses tend to go up.
“We typically see an increase in fraudulent activity around the holidays and into the new year,” said Charity Heaton, vice president, treasury management officer at Central Bank.
Her years of experience in the industry have taught her this particular holiday season might present extra risk for fraud.
“Not only does it ramp up this time of year, but we typically see additional fraud activity during times of economic shifts,” she said.
“Fraud can happen internally, within an organization, or it can involve external triggers. It’s a busy time of year for businesses and for families, and not everyone is as vigilant as they normally would be.”
Taking a few simple steps can help protect you and your business from becoming a victim.
Click carefully
Your email can be a front door for fraudsters, especially this time of year when online ordering might be taking you to sites you usually wouldn’t shop. Whenever in question, always contact the sender of the email directly to verify a link or attachment is safe before clicking.
“I recently received an email related to a credit card dispute, which I knew I hadn’t submitted,” Heaton said.
“And there’s the familiar email message saying your Amazon Prime won’t work if you don’t renew your membership. Don’t click through…
