They say the only constant is change.
Indeed, the saying applies not only to everyday life, but also business – especially with the continued rise of AI and other technologies changing how we work, live, shop, and more.
But when your algorithm shows an article titled “Staying safe from fraud,” you might think it’s old news.
Think again.
Because while the prospect of technology-fueled fraud isn’t new, the methods are always changing – getting more convincing, seeming less suspicious, and successfully luring victims.
That’s why Regions Bank has a year-round focus on raising awareness of fraud trends. Criminals exploit human vulnerabilities, casting a wide net knowing someone – whether it’s an employee of a business, or a single individual who gets a curious text – will fall for the latest version of the scam.
Creating a Culture of Fraud Awareness
Jeff Taylor from Regions Bank keeps a constant watch on fraud trends. When he and his colleagues see those trends emerging, they work proactively to raise awareness as part of their efforts to help people recognize red flags and avoid falling victim to phishing, social engineering, and deception.
Developing what Taylor calls “a strong culture of fraud awareness” helps turn a company’s staff into the organization’s first and most effective line of defense. And consider this: This mindset not only protects corporate assets, but also equips employees with lifelong habits that safeguard their personal lives and families long after they leave the office.
The Rising Threat of Business Infiltration Scams
Businesses face particularly damaging schemes that infiltrate through staff. One of the most prevalent is Business Email Compromise (BEC), where fraudsters impersonate executives, vendors, or colleagues via spoofed emails to request urgent wire transfers, changes to payment details, or sensitive information.
“These attacks succeed because they create pressure through urgency and authority, catching busy employees off guard,” Taylor noted. “In many cases, people know to look out for malicious links or attachments, so fraudsters use other methods. One is what we call ‘pretexting’ phone calls pretending to be from trusted partners.”
Taylor pointed out something else: Even social media oversharing by employees can reveal company travel schedules, personnel absences, or operational details. To a fraudster, nothing is off limits. And they pounce when they see an opening.
“A failure by someone to verify a request – taking the time to call someone back at their verified number, double-checking to make sure this note really came from the boss, and those types of steps, can lead to data breaches,” Taylor warned. “Fraudsters know even one unaware employee can open the door.”
Fostering Fraud Awareness
Building a fraud-aware culture requires more than reminders—it demands ongoing education, clear protocols, and leadership commitment. Organizations should integrate fraud awareness into onboarding and provide regular training that includes realistic simulations to test and improve employee responses, Taylor said. These exercises help identify vulnerabilities without real-world consequences and reinforce recognition of red flags such as unexpected requests, urgent language, or slight mismatches in email addresses or domains.
“When we meet with clients, we encourage them to use a simple, but powerful, verification process: Stop. Call. And Confirm,” Taylor added. “This is especially important before acting on any payment request, account change, or sensitive instruction.”
And Don’t Forget
Network security deserves special emphasis. Routers are often overlooked yet critical gateways. Compromising a router exposes every connected device. Businesses should encourage (and model) best practices such as monthly router reboots to clear stale data and disrupt potential malicious activity, changing default usernames and passwords, installing firmware updates promptly, and disabling remote access features unless essential.
Transferring Workplace Habits to Personal Protection
The beauty of embedding these practices is they naturally extend into employees’ personal lives, creating a layer of protection at home. The same “Stop. Call. And Confirm” habit that prevents a costly BEC at work can stop an imposter from tricking an employee (or their family) into sending money for a supposed emergency or “account issue.”
“Network and device habits are especially transferable,” said Justin Cole, Cyber Defense Operations Manager for Regions Bank. “Employees who learn to secure office routers can bring home the same vigilance and enhance their own personal cybersecurity.”
Experts recommend rebooting routers monthly, updating firmware, and using separate networks. Most modern routers support a primary network for what you use as primary devices (i.e.: work laptops, smartphones, banking devices) and a guest or secondary network for less-secure items like smart TVs, speakers, thermostats, and gaming consoles. This limits the spread of threats, as many smart devices have weak built-in security.
“Your security will be even stronger if you remove old or unsupported devices from your network,” Cole added. “And we encourage people to talk to their families about this. Your spouse, your children, whoever else shares your network – make sure they’re keeping fraud prevention top of mind, too.”
A Win-Win for Businesses and Employees
Ultimately, creating a culture of fraud awareness is not a one-time session but an ongoing commitment. Businesses gain stronger defenses. Employees carry home practical insights.
“In an era where threats evolve rapidly, this dual benefit makes fraud awareness one of the smartest investments any organization can make,” Taylor concluded.
