How to Defend Your Money as a Small Business

January 8, 2026

How Can Hackers and Fraudsters Try to Steal My Money?

• Human psychology: Urgency ("Your account is compromised!") ("Your account is locked!") makes people act quickly and not thoughtfully. This is most effective on a telephone call but also appears in email.
• Reused credentials: One password leak can open doors to multiple accounts.
• Unsecured connections: Public Wi-Fi often lacks encryption, or authentic service names, enabling data interception.
• Lack of verification: Many people don’t double‑check URLs or sender addresses on web pages or emails.
• Phishing for account passwords by sending fake emails directing users to fake websites.
• A business offering to "reduce your marketing expenses" in return for a percentage of savings.
  
  

  How Can You Defend Your Money?

  Understanding the common tricks is the first step to protecting your money.

  Email especially can be a vulnerability. Verify Every Communication. Never click links in unexpected emails or texts.

  When phoning your bank use the number on the back of your card, or programmed on your phone, or on your bank statement, not the one in an email message.

  Monitor Accounts Daily (Set up push notifications for transactions from your bank.) Review statements for unknown charges.

  Protect Credit Card and Debit Cards. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Inspect ATMs for tampering before use.

  Limit Sharing Personal Info. The less data you post publicly (e.g., birthdate, travel plans), the harder it is for attackers to impersonate you or rob your home.

  Schedule regular review and updates: Have your banking and other phone numbers available on your phone. Check your bank statements. Verify you are notified with large (or any) bank transactions. Verify you are notified about small balances!

  Don't share your business expenses (like advertising costs, subscription costs, phone bills) with anyone.

  For further details, subscribe to Cyber StepTracker where we provide full details including training, a checklist and guidance on avoiding these and many other cyber risks.

  That is all.