Most business fraud doesn’t begin with an email.
It begins with research.
Before a criminal ever sends a fraudulent invoice, requests a wire transfer, or impersonates your company’s president, they often spend time learning about your business. Much of that information is publicly available and completely legitimate. Your website, social media pages, and online business profiles help customers find you - but they can also help criminals understand how your business operates.
That doesn’t mean you should stop promoting your business.
It simply means you should understand what information is publicly available and how it could be used to make a fraud attempt more convincing.
Your Website Tells a Story
Your website is often the first place criminals look.
They may learn:
- Who owns the business.
- Names and titles of key employees.
- Office locations.
- Phone numbers.
- Email address formats.
- Products and services you offer.
- Vendor relationships.
- Customer industries.
None of this information is inherently dangerous.
In fact, it’s often helpful for customers.
But the more someone knows about your business, the easier it becomes to create a believable email or phone call.
LinkedIn Helps Criminals Understand Your Organization
LinkedIn is a valuable networking tool.
It also provides a roadmap of your organization.
A fraudster may identify:
- The business owner.
- The controller or accounting manager.
- Human Resources personnel.
- Payroll administrators.
- IT staff.
- Employees responsible for accounts payable.
Knowing who approves payments or manages employee records helps criminals target the right person with the right message.
Again, the goal isn’t to avoid LinkedIn.
It’s to recognize that criminals use it, too.
Social Media Reveals More Than You Think
Business social media pages help build relationships with customers and celebrate company achievements.
Sometimes they also reveal operational details.
Posts may mention:
- Executive travel.
- Office closures.
- New employees.
- Large projects.
- Vendor partnerships.
- Company events.
- Internal celebrations.
Individually, these updates seem harmless.
Combined, they help criminals create messages that feel timely and authentic.
For example, if your company announces that the owner is attending an industry conference, an employee may be more likely to believe an email saying:
“I’m traveling today and can’t take calls. Please send this wire immediately.”
Press Releases Build Credibility - for Everyone
Press releases often highlight exciting milestones.
A business acquisition.
A new location.
An executive promotion.
A major customer.
These announcements help strengthen your reputation.
Unfortunately, they also give criminals additional context about your organization.
The more they know about recent changes, the easier it becomes to reference those events in a fraudulent message.
Employee Directories Can Become Target Lists
Many businesses publish employee names, direct phone numbers, and email addresses to make it easier for customers to connect with the right person.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
However, employee directories also tell criminals:
- Who handles accounting.
- Who manages payroll.
- Who works in Human Resources.
- Who supports executives.
- Who may have authority to approve payments.
Rather than sending thousands of generic phishing emails, criminals can target the employees most likely to respond.
It’s the Combination That Matters
Very little of this information is sensitive by itself.
The risk comes from combining it.
Imagine a criminal knows:
- Your owner is traveling.
- Your controller’s name.
- Your accounting email format.
- A large project is underway.
- A vendor payment is likely due this week.
Suddenly, an email requesting an urgent wire transfer feels much more believable.
That’s why many successful fraud attempts don’t look random.
They look personal.
Practical Ways to Reduce Your Risk
You don’t need to remove your business from the internet.
Instead, consider these good practices:
- Review what information is publicly available about your business.
- Limit unnecessary details about internal financial processes.
- Be thoughtful when posting executive travel before or during a trip.
- Encourage employees to use privacy settings appropriately on personal social media accounts.
- Train employees to recognize that public information can be used to make fraudulent requests appear legitimate.
- Build verification procedures that don’t depend on how convincing a request appears.
Remember
Successful fraud isn’t always about technology.
It’s often about preparation.
Criminals invest time learning about your business because the better they understand your organization, the more believable their requests become.
The good news is that the same verification procedures protect your business whether a scam is generic or highly personalized.
Knowing that someone may have researched your business shouldn’t make you fearful.
It should remind you that every unexpected payment request, banking change, or confidential information request deserves the same thoughtful verification process.
Need Help?
Fraud prevention is about more than firewalls and software - it’s about building good business habits.
First Bank of Berne is committed to helping local businesses strengthen those habits through practical education, trusted guidance, and banking solutions designed to help protect what you’ve worked hard to build.