18 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | February 2024 Avoiding scams shortly after changes were made to the executive director of the commission. The announcement was shared pub- licly and was used by the scammers. “It seems that scammers try to take advantage of transitions or changes in organizations,” says Chitwood. “They requested payment for a doctored invoice and changed the banking information to a fake account, so it didn’t go to the right place. It was caught when they made a second attempt using the same invoice.” The fraud was reported to police and Alberta Canola’s financial institution and was investigated, but not all the funds were successfully recovered. As these attempts become more common, what warning signs should farmers watch for while conducting their business? Keeping your farm safe It’s important that all members of the farm are trained in what to look for when avoiding scams. “There are a few common things people can look for,” explains Bouvier. “Ask yourself if this is too good to be true. Is it too good of a deal? One of the common footprints of fraud is that they are playing on emotions and trying to get a knee-jerk reaction or playing on self-interest. That’s the deal portion.” It’s also important to verify sources to avoid scams. As an example, pro- ducers can research the seller and location of equipment, or investigate email senders. Horncastle suggests farmers should “do as much research as you can. You can look up the URL or domain that fraudsters are using for links or emails. There are also ways to verify when a website was created. “If you’re getting emails asking you to download attachments or click on links, take time to look at where it’s coming from.” Bouvier asks, “if an email appears to be coming from a known person, does it follow typical interactions with that company? Independently verify with that person if they are asking you to phone somewhere or send money. Don’t just trust it.” Spear phishing is an increasingly common type of scam that uses in- formation about the target to personalize their approach to one specific victim. Sometimes, specific details are accessed publicly, or they can be accessed when a business’s network is compromised by clicking links or downloading files. “Victimization can happen quickly, and suspects can infiltrate the business’s network, and it can lead to spear phishing,” says Horncastle. There are a few important tips for avoiding scammers and increasing the security of farm businesses. “The first step is just training themselves and their employees to be able to recognize the warning signs of phishing,” says Bouvier. “Never give out personal info, and if it’s a known person contacting you, make sure you verify.” Keeping technology protected and clean will also reduce the risk of being a scam victim. “Password hygiene on your accounts is important. Use complex passwords and multifactor authentication in case someone has your password,” says Bouvier. “Don’t reuse passwords on your accounts. Anti-virus and anti-malware software can also help protect your devices, and if it finds something malicious, it can actually help block them.” Both Bouvier and Chitwood recom- mend keeping devices updated, noting that out-of-date software can be ex- ploited by scammers. Chitwood explains that after being targeted in 2022, Alberta Canola made some updates to their protection tools and prevention practices. “We have a new firewall that does 24/7 network and security monitoring,” says Chitwood. “The board audited the internal protocols, and we’ve increased staff and director training. We used our auditor’s risk forensics services, and a lot of the best practices they recommended we brought in, and we continually monitor the risk.” There are also a few programs that are designed to reduce the fraud risk. Get Cyber Safe is a national pro- gram to increase awareness of cyber safety. It features information about securing accounts, devices, and connections. The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is also a nationally administered program offering grants for improving technology. Businesses Farknot Architect - stock.adobe.com Keep devices updated: Out-of-date software can be exploited by scammers. FARMERS LOVE MAGAZINES 92% of farmers use ag magazines monthly, compared to 44% for websites, 43% for radio and 10% for farm shows. (Verified Readex Research study)
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