Protecting Yourself from Common Scams: A 2025 Guide for Businesses and Individuals

Cybercriminals continue to adapt, exploiting both human psychology and evolving technologies to scam victims out of money, data, and trust. In 2025, scams are more convincing and widespread than ever, often targeting small and midsize businesses (SMBs), local governments, and nonprofit staff.

Understanding the most common scams—and how to avoid them—remains a critical part of your cyber defense strategy.

Top Scams to Watch Out For

1. Phishing and Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Phishing remains the number one attack vector. Modern phishing emails may use stolen branding, urgent language, and even AI-generated text. In BEC attacks, criminals impersonate executives or vendors to trick employees into wiring funds or sharing credentials.

2. Tech Support Scams

Fake pop-ups or phone calls claiming your computer is infected are a classic scam tactic. Victims may unknowingly give remote access to their systems, install malware, or pay for fake services.

Reference: FTC. (2024). Tech support scams. https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/tech-support-scams

3. Invoice and Payment Scams

Cybercriminals manipulate invoices or intercept legitimate communications to reroute payments to fraudulent bank accounts. These scams are particularly dangerous for businesses that handle recurring vendor transactions.

4. Fake Job Offers and Social Engineering on LinkedIn

Scammers impersonate recruiters or company executives to harvest personal data, install malware, or phish login credentials.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Organization

• Train Your Team Regularly: Cyber awareness training helps employees recognize phishing attempts and social engineering. Reinforce this with monthly phishing simulations.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding a second layer of verification significantly reduces the risk of credential theft.
• Verify Requests via a Second Channel: Always confirm wire transfers or sensitive changes via a phone call or in-person verification, especially when the request comes via email.
• Secure Your Email Environment: Use modern email security tools with sandboxing, link scanning, and impersonation protection (e.g., Proofpoint Essentials, Mimecast).
• Don’t Trust Pop-Ups or Cold Calls: Legitimate tech companies will never call you unsolicited to fix your computer. If you receive such messages, hang up and verify independently.

Wentz IT Consulting Can Help

We offer scam-awareness training and email security audits to keep your staff and systems safe. Contact us for a free consultation and learn how we protect local businesses and nonprofits across central Ohio.