Email scams are a growing risk for South Coast businesses
Small businesses in the Eurobodalla region rely on email every day to communicate with customers, suppliers, staff and professional advisers. Unfortunately, cybercriminals rely on this same convenience to target businesses in Moruya, Batemans Bay, Narooma and throughout the South Coast NSW.
Business email scams can look genuine and often use familiar branding, realistic invoices or urgent requests. A single rushed response can result in stolen passwords, fraudulent payments, malware infections or unauthorised access to sensitive information.
The good news is that a few practical security improvements can significantly reduce your risk.
Common email scams affecting small businesses
Fake invoice scams
A scammer may impersonate a supplier and send an invoice with changed bank details. The email may appear to come from a genuine contact, particularly if the criminal has compromised an existing mailbox.
Before paying an invoice, confirm any change to payment details using a trusted phone number. Do not rely on the contact details included in the suspicious email.
Business email compromise
Business email compromise occurs when a criminal gains access to a business account or convincingly impersonates an executive, manager or supplier. They may request an urgent payment, gift cards, employee information or confidential documents.
These scams often use pressure and secrecy. Requests such as "process this immediately" or "do not call me" should be treated as warning signs.
Password theft and phishing
Phishing emails attempt to trick recipients into entering passwords on a fake website. Common examples include messages about Microsoft 365 accounts, parcel deliveries, invoices, voicemail notifications or account security alerts.
The email may look professional, but the link can lead to a fraudulent login page designed to steal your credentials.
Warning signs to look for
Train yourself and your team to pause when an email includes:
- An urgent or threatening request
- Unexpected payment instructions
- A request for passwords or security codes
- Unusual spelling, grammar or formatting
- A sender address that is slightly different from the real address
- Links that do not match the organisation they claim to represent
- Unexpected attachments, especially documents containing macros
- A request to bypass normal approval procedures
Scammers are becoming more capable, and artificial intelligence can help them create convincing messages. Good security awareness is therefore more important than simply looking for spelling mistakes.
Five steps to protect your business
1. Turn on multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, adds an extra layer of protection to email and cloud accounts. Even if a password is stolen, an attacker may be blocked without the second verification method.
Enable MFA for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, banking, accounting software, remote access and other important services.
2. Use unique, strong passwords
Never reuse a business password across multiple services. A password manager can help you create and securely store long, unique passwords without requiring staff to memorise them all.
3. Verify payment requests
Create a clear process for approving payments and changing supplier bank details. Confirm changes through a separate communication channel, such as a known phone number or an in-person conversation.
4. Keep devices and software updated
Security updates fix weaknesses that criminals may use to access computers and networks. Enable automatic updates where practical, and make sure operating systems, browsers, applications and security software are maintained.
5. Maintain reliable backups
Backups can help your business recover from ransomware, accidental deletion or account compromise. Store backups separately from your main systems and test them regularly to confirm that files can actually be restored.
What to do if you suspect a scam
If you or an employee clicks a suspicious link, provides a password or sends money to the wrong account, act quickly:
- Disconnect the affected computer from the internet if malware is suspected.
- Contact your IT provider immediately.
- Change affected passwords from a known safe device.
- Notify your bank if money or payment details are involved.
- Preserve the suspicious emails and transaction information.
- Report the incident to ReportCyber and relevant authorities.
- Inform affected customers or suppliers where necessary.
Do not feel embarrassed about reporting an incident. Quick action can limit damage and help prevent others from being targeted.
Local IT support for Eurobodalla businesses
Cybersecurity is not only a technology issue. It involves people, policies, backups, access controls and ongoing monitoring. A managed IT provider can help review your systems, configure MFA, improve email security, maintain backups and provide practical guidance for your staff.
Tideline IT supports businesses and households across Moruya, Batemans Bay, Narooma and the wider Eurobodalla region. If you are unsure whether your business is protected from email scams, ransomware or account compromise, a security review is a sensible place to start.
Contact Tideline IT for local managed IT and cybersecurity support on the South Coast of NSW.