As a business owner, you know the powerful ease of using QuickBooks, a popular accounting software that’s utilized by over 4.5 million small and medium-sized businesses worldwide. Tracking finances is easy, and as the name suggests, very quickly managed with the QuickBook platform. In fact, many of our small business customers enjoy the integrations we offer at TFNB with QuickBooks and other bookkeeping software that allows you to manage all of your accounting tasks from one convenient place.
Sadly, it seems that cybercriminals are running a business of targeting QuickBook accounts with phishing email scams this past year. As your trusted banking partner, we wanted you to be aware of security advisories that have been issued regarding QuickBooks, and of the scams the TFNB IT department has been frequently seeing regarding the software.
How Phishing Works
You might’ve heard of phishing before but are not entirely sure what that means or how to spot the scam. Phishing is a type of online scam that targets consumers by sending them an e-mail that appears to be from a well-known source—an internet service provider, a bank, or a mortgage company, for example. The cybercriminals reel unsuspecting people into their trickery by mimicking or spoofing company logos in their emails—often, it looks just like the real thing. The email asks the consumer to provide personal identifying information. Then a scammer uses the information to open new accounts or invade the consumer’s existing accounts.
Here’s What to Know: Intuit QuickBooks Phishing Scams
Imagine going on as business as usual when suddenly you receive an email that appears to be an invoice from Intuit, the company that produces QuickBooks. Alarmed that your account might have been charged, you’re tempted to act. You’re instructed in the email to immediately call the number provided in the email or your account will be disabled or further compromised. Calling the number will require you to validate your credit card details in order to reverse the fraudulent transaction. If you disclose your credit card number, fraudsters then have access to widely do what they want with your private information—make their own unauthorized purchases or sell your data.
How to Protect Yourself from Phishing Scams
While these phishing emails are often tricky to decipher from authentic company communication because they often utilize official-looking logos and email addresses, there are some ways you can determine whether or not cybercriminals are trying to scam you with one of their phishing schemes.
- Intuit advises customers who received one of these phishing messages not to click any embedded links or open attachments.
- Delete suspicious emails from your inbox to avoid getting infected with malware.
- Never call a phone number provided in a suspicious email. Instead, visit the organization’s official website to find their contact information.
- If you’re asked to verify payment information over the phone, ask the caller to tell you what they have on file. If they decline, only provide the last four digits of your payment card number.
What to Do if You Fall for a Phishing Scam
It happens. Sometimes, we impulsively click and open when we should just delete. If that’s the case, there are some steps you can immediately take:
- Delete any downloaded files immediately.
- Scan your systems using an up-to-date anti-malware solution.
- Change your passwords.
At TFNB, Cybersecurity is Our Priority
As with any security threat, it’s impossible to completely eradicate the risk of cybercriminal phishing activity, but the tips we’ve provided here should help minimize the odds of you becoming a victim. If the worst should happen, remember that phishing attempts are a crime, and you can forward phishing emails to reportphishing@apwg.org with the Anti-Phishing Working Group. And you should also report it at this link.
As a TFNB customer, you can rest assured knowing that your private data stays protected with us. We take appropriate security measures, like biometric authentication, encryption, and anti-virus software that give you greater security as you manage your money. And while we use world-class technology, you’ll still receive the friendly, personable service that you expect from a neighborhood bank. Still curious about how we keep your information safe? Call or visit one of your local bankers today. We’d be happy to chat.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about our banking solutions, contact us at 254-840-2836
