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Business ACH Payment Fraud

Thursday, September 7, 2023/Categories: Scams and Alerts

We have seen recent situations where several businesses received an email from a vendor to change the way that they get paid. The email included a new account and routing numbers; however, this was a fraudster attempting to re-route the ACH payment. Verbal authentication of any payment change is highly suggested. Here is a great resource from NACHA with additional Fraud that is popular currently.
https://www.nacha.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Nacha_Fraud_Booklet_Updated_Oct_2021.pdf

If you think your business may have been exposed to this type of fraudulent activity, please contact your local branch. View locations and contact information here: https://www.cfbank.com/Locations-Hours

6 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Victim of ACH Fraud:

1. Verify before sending funds.
Make sure you have the correct name, account numbers, amounts, and contact information before you send an ACH transaction. Be sure to use the correct numbers you’ve used in the past. If you receive a new account number via email or text, this could be a scammer attempting to re-route your ACH payment.

2. Look out for new, unfamiliar accounts and fake invoices.
Scammers may try to trick you by creating new accounts and passing along fake invoices. When sending money electronically, always match the requested amount to a legitimate invoice from a trusted vendor. 

3. Never click on an email link or open an attachment.
Even if the link comes from someone you trust, their email account may be compromised, and the link may infect your system with malware.

4. Inspect email addresses.
Some fraudsters are pretty good at disguising their email addresses – but there will always be slight discrepancies. To be safe, you should never correspond via email regarding ACH transfers.

5. Ignore a sense of urgency.
Scammers will often trick you into thinking you need to send an ACH transfer right away. Don’t do it. Instead, call your payee directly and discuss when they can expect payment.

6. Implement financial security procedures. 
Two-factor authentication or dual controls can help protect your ACH transfers.

Be informed and stay safe. By following some of these best practices to avoid ACH fraud, you can help protect yourself and your business from what could be a significant financial loss. 

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