The digital world is the prime place for business of all shapes and sizes to establish a name for themselves, to develop their brand and to try their luck on a globally connected stage.It all sounds great, but there is of course a sinister side to the online realm, one rife with cybercrime and fraudsters waiting for the right opportunity to pounce.Those who put measures in place to protect themselves against malicious threats can greatly reduce their chance of falling victim to fraud.If you need to find out more about whether or not your business is doing enough to defend itself against online fraud, here are some important points to note.
Online Fraud is Evolving
As cybercrime evolves and new tactics are brought into play, outdated or underperforming security systems may struggle to keep up.When the criminals up their game, so too must those defending against them if they are to fully protect their hard work.For example, methods of creating a synthetic identity in order to commit fraud have changed, requiring new forms of software technology to combat the offenders.
A Rise in Cases
As much of the world struggled throughout the pandemic, some chose to capitalize on the misery of others and used the online world to commit fraud.This is partly why cybercrime is on the rise, and one of the many reasons why turning to online fraud prevention techniques is crucial for any business wishing to stay safe online and remain competitive.
A Loss of Capital
According to Fox Business, Americans lost $4.2 billion to scammers in 2020, which is a frightening number to say the least.At its most fundamental level, online fraud represents a direct threat to your capital. Losing out on your hard-earned cash is a tragic affair, and one that should be prevented with the latest and greatest methods.A firewall on its own will likely no longer suffice, not when there are so many avenues and entry points for cybercriminals to exploit, some of which can include:
- A poorly secured WIFI network
- Unsecured personal devices
- Social engineering
- Account takeover
- Human Error
- Malware and ransomware
A Severely Damaged Reputation
Companies that fall victim to online fraud are not received so well by the public, particularly when it puts the customers in direct jeopardy.This kind of event can be hard to recover from, as it may not only hammer your bank account, but tarnish your brand image too.Many modern consumers expect companies to be well aware of the sinister threat that cybercrime poses, and they also expect them to do something about it.Failing to do so will probably not sit well with the public, and it could land you in some extremely hot water in terms of legal fees, just look at size of the fines handed out by GDPR.Suffice to say, taking a preventative approach to online fraud is crucial in your efforts to maintain a happy, healthy organization.
