Let me paint a quick picture for you.
You come in on a Monday morning, grab your coffee, log into your business account — and something doesn’t look right. A few checks have cleared that you don’t recognize. You dig a little deeper, and now it’s not a few hundred dollars — it’s thousands.
That’s not a “big-city” story. That’s happening to businesses just like yours, in Blount County.
I’ve had more conversations about fraud in the last couple of years than I ever have before — and it’s not slowing down. If anything, it’s picking up speed.
Why This Is Happening More Often
Fraudsters have gotten smarter, but more importantly, they’ve gotten more patient.
They’re not just going after big corporations anymore. In fact, small and mid-sized businesses are often the easier target: fewer internal controls, fewer eyes on accounts daily, and a lot of trust built into how things have always been done.
The most common things we’re seeing: checks being altered or duplicated (check washing), unauthorized ACH withdrawals, and emails that look legitimate asking to change payment instructions (phishing). And the scary part? A lot of this doesn’t get caught right away.
It’s Not Just About the Money
Obviously, losing money hurts. But what most people don’t think about is everything that comes after: the time spent trying to unwind it, the stress of figuring out what happened, the disruption to your cash flow — and sometimes, not getting the money back.
For most business owners, it’s not just the loss — it’s the headache and distraction when you’ve already got enough on your plate.
The Good News — You’ve Got Options
This is the part I wish more businesses understood: protecting yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. There are a few tools that make a big difference.
Positive Pay
This is one of the simplest and most effective tools out there. You tell the bank what checks you’ve issued, and if something comes through that doesn’t match, it gets flagged before it clears. It’s basically a second set of eyes on your account — every single day. It’s very effective if you write a lot of checks and, of course, are diligent in using it.
ACH Filters and Blocks
You control who can pull money out of your account electronically. If it’s not someone you’ve approved, it doesn’t go through. Titling the account correctly and setting permissions are key.
Dual Control
Two sets of eyes on outgoing payments. It might feel like an extra step, but it’s one of the easiest ways to prevent both mistakes and fraud.
A Few Simple Things You Can Do Right Now
You don’t have to overhaul everything tomorrow, but a few habits go a long way: Take a look at who has access to your accounts. Check your activity more frequently — daily is ideal. Slow down when payment instructions change, especially over email. And have a conversation with your bank about what protections are available.
Bottom Line
Fraud isn’t going away. It’s evolving. The businesses that stay ahead of it aren’t the biggest — they’re the ones that are paying attention and putting a few smart safeguards in place.
This isn’t just about protecting your account. It’s about protecting your time, your reputation, and the business you’ve worked hard to build.
