Gamma Communications : Five tips for stopping phone fraud in its tracks

Phone fraud affects all businesses. But small and medium-sized organisations are especially at risk. A phone system is essential to providing good customer service, so how do businesses reap the benefits whilst minimising any risk?

Every year, SME's reportedly lose more than £9bn to fraudsters, as a smaller and more informal communication environment can mean gaps in security are more likely to occur. As a result, phone systems can be at the mercy of hackers unless the right precautions are taken.

It's not always easy to tell when a phone scam is a scam. But being aware and following these tips can help keep you one step ahead of the criminals.

1. Train employees on vishing

Vishing - or voice phishing - involves fraudsters cold-calling your staff while pretending to be someone else. The intention is often to obtain usernames, passwords and personal details, anything to gain full access to your customers' accounts. Train your staff so that they're aware of such tactics and know how to escalate security concerns when necessary.

1. Password protect your phones

For phone networks that rely on an internet connection, a password is as crucial as any other connected device. Without the right security set up, criminals can easily hack into your phone infrastructure. Handsets, smart devices and web portals should all be treated with the same level of care. Make sure employees log out when they're finished for the day, and that phone systems are always logged out over weekends or holidays. And be sure to change the password from any default passwords given.