A Quick Note On Fraud Because It Is A People Issue

A topic that has been on my mind lately has been fraud.

While it’s often seen as an IT or financial issue, fraud is just as much a people issue [and training issue].

Most fraud today comes through phishing emails, smishing (text scams), impersonation attempts, fake invoices or vendor scams, payment fraud, and chargebacks.

In many cases, business emails, websites, or domains are compromised; not because systems failed, but because someone wasn’t equipped to spot the risk. That’s not a criticism – it’s often the reality.

And for many small and mid-sized businesses, there isn’t the budget for specialized IT support or ongoing cybersecurity training. That’s why awareness and training matters.

Simple steps can go a long way:

• Train your staff to recognize suspicious emails, calls, and texts.

• Encourage them to pause and verify requests for payments or sensitive information.

• Never send funds to unknown accounts; especially via e-transfers.

• Monitor accounts regularly and limit who can approve financial transactions.

If you need support to train your staff, start local.

In Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police provide free fraud awareness sessions for businesses.

There are also free, accessible resources through non-profit organizations like the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Competition Bureau Canada, Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, FINTRAC, and other organizations like Alison, Money Mentors, KnowledgeFlow.

At its core, fraud prevention is about building a culture where people feel responsible, informed, and confident enough to question what doesn’t seem right.

If you need assistance with training, reach out to us - we are here to help you.