It may be hard to run a business, especially when fraud happens. Fraud can occur from employees and customers and, if not caught, can result in monetary loss and negatively impact company morale. It is important to educate your employees about the various types of business fraud and provide them with a safe space to report tips. Setting up an anonymous tip hotline or website will help protect your business.
Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud is a huge problem that can result in significant losses for business owners. It can include stealing and using someone else’s credit or debit cards to purchase items or cash advances. It can also include fraudulent applications for new credit cards with stolen identity information. Thankfully, federal regulations protect customers from unauthorized charges on their credit cards. If customers report these unauthorized purchases within the allotted time frame, they will not be responsible for paying the merchant for fraudulent transactions. Given their high prices, it would help if you devised plans to stop chargebacks on your business.
Businesses need up-to-date payment card industry (PCI) retail equipment and procedures, especially those that take credit cards in person. Talking about a cardholder contesting a charge is the most frequent chargeback-related circumstance in which the word dispute will be used. A cardholder must phone their bank and request the reversal of a specific payment. It’s always wise to ask your customers to watch out for suspicious activity on their credit card statements or online accounts, such as unauthorized charges or unusual spending patterns. Additionally, avoid asking your customers to provide personal information over email or text, as these are common tactics that cybercriminals use. Resolving conflicts can lessen the damage disagreements cause by helping to avert a certain chargeback dispute.
Employee Fraud
Fraud committed by employees, whether stealing cash or falsifying inventory records, is a significant threat to any business. These employees can often rationalize the crime because they have access to company funds, are unafraid of security measures, or need the money. A small business must take steps to prevent fraud by addressing these factors before it happens. An employee whose behavior seems suspicious should be investigated immediately. For example, if an employee is acting nervous or angry in the presence of management, it could indicate that they are hiding something. Employees who show a sudden interest in positions that involve cash handling, sensitive records or security oversight should also be considered suspect. Other clues include a sudden change in expense reimbursement requests or a glaring discrepancy between actual and reconciled account activity.
Fraudulent Websites
Fake websites are one of the most common forms of online fraud. They’re used to trick users into sharing sensitive information, downloading malware, or buying fake or nonexistent products. Some examples include phishing sites that look like your bank’s login page, fake airfare booking sites, and malicious pop-ups on legitimate websites that download malware to steal passwords or other information from your device. Criminals also target businesses, stealing their identities to file fraudulent uniform commercial code filings or hijack their business credit. They may also impersonate business leaders or employees to trick people into paying money for services they didn’t receive. Look for poor design quality or odd grammar to spot a fake website. If a site is difficult to navigate and features low-resolution images, it’s likely a scam. Also, be wary of calls to action that emphasize urgency or fear. If you’re rushed to respond, it could signify an attacker trying to take advantage of you.
Physical Entry
Businesses are at risk for theft of physical inventory items from storerooms and warehouses. They also face the risk of losing valuable equipment and tools that are kept outside. These items are often easily accessible to salespeople in retail and manufacturing businesses, so entrance systems like speed gates and turnstiles must detect various types of fraud. Business identity theft occurs when thieves steal a business’s personal and financial information to obtain lines of credit, loans, and credit cards. They may even file fraudulent uniform commercial code (UCC) statements.
This type of fraud is more common in larger organizations but can occur in any size business. A whistleblower is the most common way a company catches this type of fraud, so establishing policies to encourage employees to report and protect them once they do is crucial. Other preventive measures include regularly reviewing bank statements and checking vendor master files to guard against invoices from fictitious suppliers.
