Help for local businesses to avoid being scammed

Local businesses are being offered free tools to help upskill and train their workforce so they can identify and protect themselves from business scams. 

More than 100 organisations are spearheading a new initiative to combat fraud against businesses as more companies and employees adjust to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Home working is thought to increase the risk of a company being exposed to sophisticated business scams. 

NatWest, Places for People and the Co-operative Bank are among the first companies to join Businesses Against Scams, a cross-industry initiative led by National Trading Standards that is providing free online training modules, including examples of prominent scams and how to avoid becoming a victim. 

Councillor Catherine Donovan, Cabinet member for Economy and Communities, says: "This is a welcome initiative as companies become more aware of the risks of criminals targeting employees who are isolated from colleagues because they are working from home.  

"A number of scams have already been reported, including criminals impersonating government officials or a senior member of the business to put pressure on employees to give out sensitive information or to make payments. 

"Remote working also presents a number of cyber security challenges, with employees having to familiarise themselves with new software and devices and a company's online security suddenly reliant on the resilience of home Wi-Fi routers." 

Businesses Against Scams is part of the Friends Against Scams initiative run by National Trading Standards to provide free online training to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams. 

For more information, go to  www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/