Protect Your Business this Holiday Season

Jingling bells, decorations and the endless supply of chocolate treats all mean the holiday season is well underway. Unfortunately, the season of giving also means prime time for the taking for fraudsters looking to cash in on your business.

Take these precautions from Town and Country Bank and Peoples Prosperity Bank now so you enjoy the merriment of the season without the headache of fraud.

• Keep your merchant or internet sales accounts separate from your operating account. If there is a data breach, fraudsters will only have access to the merchant account.
• Switch to online banking. Use complex passwords and change them monthly. Establish alerts to warn of suspicious transactions.
• Ensure paper documents and business checking supplies are securely stored. Educate your staff on handling cash and sensitive materials.
• Install and use a firewall on your business network. Never use your business computer for web surfing.
• Use ACH Filter and Positive Pay services to cut back on check and electronic transaction fraud. With Positive Pay, the bank verifies items to a listing of authorized checks and electronic withdrawals you provide. The bank then electronically reports items that do not match your listing.
• Back up data with cloud computing or other cost-effective solutions. Set up a Google Alert to monitor your business name.
• Talk to your insurance agent about protection against crime or fraud.

While no business can be immune to fraud or cybercrime entirely, having proper security measures in place will greatly reduce your risk. For more information on current scams or to talk to a banker on how to best protect your business this season, call 217-787-3100.