Blog
When Your Bookkeeper Becomes the Risk: What a Recent Federal Embezzlement Case Teaches Business Owners
February 19, 2026
A North Carolina bookkeeper was recently sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after stealing nearly one million dollars from three small businesses. She handled payroll, bill pay, and taxes. She also created fake vendors and unauthorized wire transfers to hide the theft. By the time it was uncovered, the damage was done. Prison time
Check Fraud Is Back in the Spotlight and It’s Hitting Businesses Hard
February 17, 2026
Check fraud is no longer a “rare event.” Criminals are targeting mailed checks by stealing them from mailboxes, altering them or creating counterfeit versions, and turning them into real cash before anyone notices. This isn’t small-time theft anymore. Recent reporting shows this trend is accelerating and costing victims billions of dollars a year. The Case
The Money Was “Paid” but It Never Hit the Bank
February 12, 2026
Why Every Business Must Verify Deposits, Not Just Trust Receipts A recent case out of Michigan is a hard reminder of a simple truth most businesses overlook. A sales manager pleaded guilty to wire fraud after stealing nearly $900,000 from his employer. Customers paid their bills. Receipts were issued. Everything looked normal. The problem?The money
Fake Banks Are Everywhere: What the Latest CTM360 Analysis Means for Your Business
February 10, 2026
If you think phishing is just dodgy emails from “IT Support” or Nigerian princes, think again. A new analysis linked in The Hacker News shows fraudsters have upped their game by building entire fake banks…complete with websites that look legit and services that feel real. These aren’t scammy brochures or obvious knockoffs. These are polished,
They Claimed to Be Security. The Money Was Gone Minutes Later.
February 5, 2026
What Verification Code Scams Teach Businesses About Trust Let’s be clear. This scam does not start with a request for your password or your Social Security number. It starts with something that feels harmless. A six-digit verification code sent to your phone. Recently, Omaha residents came forward after losing thousands of dollars to callers who
Counterfeit Cash Is Back and Businesses Are Paying the Price
February 3, 2026
Most business owners assume counterfeit cash is a problem of the past. Credit cards, apps, tap-to-pay… who’s still using fake bills? Fraudsters are. And they’re getting bold about it. Recent arrests in California show just how easy it is for criminals to walk into a restaurant, hand over fake $100 bills, and walk out with
Commercial Payments Fraud Is Rising and Businesses Are Leaving the Door Unlocked
January 29, 2026
Fraud rarely starts with a dramatic theft. It starts quietly. A fake email. A small test transaction. A vendor request that looks normal enough to approve without a second thought. That is exactly why commercial payments fraud is exploding. Nearly 8 out of 10 businesses experienced attempted or actual payments fraud last year. This is
Case File: When the Fraudster Works Inside the Building
January 27, 2026
A former employee of the Millbrook First Nation was just sentenced to four and a half years in prison for stealing more than four million dollars. Here’s the part that matters. That money didn’t disappear in one bold move. It went out quietly. A little at a time. Through normal looking transactions. While no one
Gift Card Fraud Is Draining Businesses. Here’s How to Stop It.
January 22, 2026
Gift Cards Are Cash. And Fraudsters Know It. Gift cards feel harmless. They are easy to sell, easy to buy, and customers love them. But here’s the uncomfortable truth most businesses learn the hard way: gift cards are basically cash with fewer protections. Fraudsters know this. And they are exploiting gift cards at an alarming
Debit Card Fraud: Why Businesses Are Stuck With the Bill and What You Can Do About It
January 20, 2026
Let’s talk about something that quietly drains profits from businesses every single day. Debit card fraud. When fraud hits a debit card transaction, who eats the loss? More often than not, it’s the merchant. Not the bank. Not the card network. Not the fraudster. The business that did everything “right” still ends up paying for
