As business owners, we’re used to handling risk. We lock the doors at night, back up data, check accounting. But when it comes to scams like phishing, vishing, and bogus security alerts many of us treat the warnings like background noise. Once in a while, we glance, nod, and move on.
That’s a mistake.
Scammers are still using the same basic tricks but dressing them up in newer clothes.
As highlighted recently in a post by tech-advisor Leo Notenboom, many of the messages you see these days come from people claiming to be banks, government agents, or “security departments.” They try to scare you, tell you there’s unusual activity on your account, or warn you about imminent fines.
The goal: make you panic and then make you act before you think. Transfer your money. Give remote access. Submit credentials. Before you know it, the damage is done.
Here’s the problem: far too many of us assume we can spot a scam based on “common sense.” But when those messages are timed right like late at night, during a busy day, or right after another stressful event, even savvy folks get caught.
That’s why it’s time to treat scam prevention like a core business process, not a “nice to have.”
Core lies scammers tell
Most scams rely on one of three basic lies:
“Your accounts have been compromised – act now or lose everything.”
“Your identity is being used in a crime, you must respond immediately.”
“Your computer or system has a serious security problem. Call now for help.”
None of these are legitimate openers. Real banks, real agencies don’t call randomly, don’t demand immediate action, and won’t threaten legal consequences over a phone call or email.
Make this your test: if someone pressures you to act right now, hang up. Then take five minutes, step away, and verify using contact information you already have.
Build guardrails around your company
As an owner or manager, you can lead the charge on this. Set clear policies for how you and your team respond to unexpected calls, emails, even pop-up alerts.
Require that anyone getting a “security alert” call must first hang up and call back the official support number.
Never rely on caller ID to verify identity. It’s trivial to fake.
Prohibit transferring funds or sharing sensitive credentials unless someone else signs off, even if the “call” claims to be from your bank.
Consider call-block tools or spam filters. Less clutter means fewer chances to get tricked.
Those few simple steps dramatically reduce the odds of someone making a mistake on a bad day.
Protecting data is about psychology, not just tech
You might be thinking, “We already have firewalls, anti-virus, secure endpoints.” That’s good. But none of that protects you from a human being tricked into handing over access.
Real protection comes from building a mindset: skepticism, calm, and verification. When your team treats every unexpected alert like a potential fire — a threat until proven safe — you build the reflexes necessary to stop scams.
If you wait until after disaster strikes, you’re already reacting. Instead, lead with prevention.