HOW THE SCAM WAS PREVENTED Fortunately, the dealership’s team followed established training and verification protocols: • Vigilance: A member of the accounts payable team flagged the invoice as suspicious and raised concerns. • Verification: The team contacted the employee whose email appeared to authorize the payment to confirm its legitimacy. • Confirmation of Fraud: The employee confirmed they had not sent the email or authorized the payment. By following these steps, the dealership avoided the fraudulent payment and was able to report the incident internally for further action. KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR DEALERSHIPS This incident underscores the importance of implementing strong safeguards to protect against scams. Consider the following best practices: 1. Employee Training » Educate employees on recognizing phishing and spoofing attempts. » Regularly remind teams to verify unusual or urgent financial requests. 2. Verification Protocols » Require confirmation from multiple parties before processing large or unexpected payments. » Use phone calls or in-person verification to confirm email requests. 3. Email Security » Implement robust email security measures, such as two-factor authentication and anti-phishing tools. » Regularly monitor and update email security settings. 4. Incident Reporting » Encourage employees to report suspicious activity immediately. » Share incidents with industry associations to raise awareness and strengthen collective defense efforts. CONCLUSION Sophisticated scams targeting dealerships are on the rise, but vigilance and robust protocols can prevent losses. By staying informed and proactive, dealerships can protect themselves from financial fraud and maintain their reputation as trusted members of their communities. Please reach out to support@nhada.com to report any scam you encounter, and we will spread the word. 11
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