PHONE: 414-223-1099 TOLL-FREE: 1-800-236-1096
SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT FOR OUR NEXT SHOW

Staying alert to fraudster red flags

Security

 (Note: In the course of advising clients and managing their investments, Landaas & Company professionals encounter criminal attempts to defraud individuals of their money or steal their identity. Landaas & Company invests in hardware, software and training to protect clients’ investments and privacy from fraud. Below is a slightly edited message Kyle Tetting sent to all the staff recently. It is an example of ongoing vigilance.)

Yesterday, I received an email, which appeared to come from a client I regularly correspond with, asking to send some funds to a new bank account.

The request wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, and the syntax was in line with my typical communication with the client. But the request to a bank account I was not aware of was an immediate red flag.

Within two minutes of receiving the email, I contacted the client via telephone to confirm the instructions and left a voicemail message. The next morning, the client called back to ask what was going on. She had no idea her email had been compromised and had definitely not requested the funds.

I bring this up to serve as a reminder that we need to remain vigilant in protecting both our clients’ information and money. A couple of notes from this one:

  • The hacker created an email address missing a single letter to mimic the client’s email while hiding the correspondence from our client. The hope was that I’d communicate with the hacker on the new email address and never notice it was slightly different than the one in the system. I did not notice this initially, but it was evident once I already was suspicious.
  • The correspondence mirrored my client’s punctuation, nicknames and other details. The hacker had clearly read through prior correspondence to better the chances I’d respond favorably.

A few reminders:

  • Confirm all requests via telephone.
  • Confirm that new bank instructions match the registration of the client(s) on the account.
  • If there is any doubt, discuss your concerns with compliance and make notes in our client relationship management system immediately to alert your colleagues.

I’m happy to report my client is updating passwords and that we were able to help her see an issue she didn’t know existed.

Kyle Tetting is president of Landaas & Company. 

In a three-part series of Money Talk VideosJason Scuglik offers advice on personal financial security. Among his tips:

  • Be sure you know who’s really sending an email.
  • Scrutinize links in email.
  • Beware of attachments.
  • Know who you’re sending email to.
  • Don’t send sensitive information through email.
Learn more
Wake-up call: Protect against cyberfraud, by Joel Dresang
Don’t let ID thieves get your money too, by Joel Dresang
Frauds and scams, from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Identity Theft and Online Security,
from the Federal Trade Commission
(initially posted Dec. 29, 2022)

Not a Landaas & Company client yet? Click here to learn more.
More information and insight from Money Talk
Money Talk Videos
Follow us on Twitter.

Landaas newsletter subscribers return to the newsletter via e-mail.


Text Size:  A  A  reset

No client or potential client should assume that any information presented or made available on or through this website should be construed as personalized financial planning or investment advice. Personalized financial planning and investment advice can be rendered only after engagement of the firm for services, execution of the required documentation, and receipt of required disclosures.
Landaas & Company performs investment advisory services only in those states where it is licensed, or excluded or exempted from state investment advisor licensing requirements. All responses to inquiries made by prospective customers to this internet site will not be made absent compliance with state investment advisor and investment advisor rep licensing requirements, or applicable exemptions or exclusions from licensing.
Please contact the firm for more information.
MEMBER FINRA MEMBER SIPC MSRB REGISTRANT

Powered By: mindspike design
ADDRESS: 411 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE, 20TH FLOOR MILWAUKEE, WI 53202
© 2024 Landaas & Company