Unless you use Conduit, Wait to Wire Funds Until July 10th

Don’t be a cliché and fall victim to wire fraud over the 4th of July holiday.  We’ve unfortunately had to have those difficult conversations before, letting firms know their experience is right out of central casting when it comes to wire fraud. 

The 4th of July is a perfect mix of risk factors, including short staffed finance teams and distracted teammates with places to be.  The criminals know this, and purposely wait for days like this Friday and Monday to finally spring their trap and work to steal funds.

fireworks

If you must send funds in this environment, please see below. We have posted this before, but these rules always apply

Safety Tips to Protect Yourself from Wire Fraud:

  1. Beware of New, Urgent, and One-Off Requests: When you receive sudden requests that seem urgent and don’t align with regular processes, exercise caution. Wire fraudsters often create a sense of urgency to pressure victims into making hasty decisions.
  2. Always Verify Instructions for New Transactions: Whether it’s a new vendor, a longtime client changing accounts, or an unfamiliar transaction, it’s crucial to verify the instructions. Reach out to known contacts using trusted contact information to validate the details independently. Double-check any new banking instructions or payment requirements to ensure accuracy.
  3. Call a Known Good Number for Verification: Don’t rely on the phone number provided in an email or invoice, as it may be manipulated by fraudsters. Use established contact information from previous interactions, a CRM or the official company website and get transferred into the proper contact.
  4. Consult Your Teammates for Questions or Concerns: You’re not alone.  Your colleagues and teammates are essential allies in maintaining security. If something seems suspicious or if you have any doubts, consult your coworkers and leadership.  Ask for help and use another set of eyes.

Conduit’s solution solves wire fraud in an hour.  Our approach is holistic and provides the best practices and manuals, ongoing security training and education for finance teammates, and a SaaS workflow automation tool that ensures the process is scalable, repeatable, and auditable.

If you want to protect yourself and your firm once and for all, reach out.

Posted in Blog