Have you all heard the latest about Pope Leo?
He recently tried to call his bank’s customer service line. Assuming it was fraud, the bank representative hung up on him. True story.
I have a similar story.
While in college, I worked for a bank and was presented with a check for deposit made payable to The Pope. I discreetly approached my supervisor and said, “I think there might be a fraud attempt.” My supervisor laughed and said it wasn’t fraud, it was the account for the Vatican embassy. Who knew?
So I can’t blame the person at the Pope’s bank. I often receive:
- Regular requests from random Gmail accounts presenting as staff members wanting to change their direct deposit.
- Texts from friends and relatives asking me to buy gift cards to help them out.
- Fake requests to settle traffic camera violations.
- And of course, there’s always the Nigerian prince who just wants me to help him settle his account.
To be honest, I don’t trust anything or anyone requesting me to do anything, especially those who want me to click links (the ones below are safe).
As HR professionals, we need to ensure we have policies and training in place to address the threats out there.
Reflect:
- When was the last time you reviewed your company’s fraud prevention or cybersecurity policies?
- Would your employees know how to spot a phishing email, fake invoice, or suspicious request for sensitive information?
- Are your managers creating a culture where employees feel comfortable questioning unusual requests, even if they appear to come from leadership?
- If a scam targeted your organization tomorrow, are you confident your team would know what to do?
Take Action:
This week, choose one fraud-related risk your company could realistically face (phishing emails, payroll scams, fake job applicants, benefits fraud, or data theft) and discuss it with your team. Review your policies, confirm who employees should report concerns to, and reinforce that slowing down and verifying suspicious requests is always better than reacting too quickly.
Need help creating Pope-proof policies and procedures? That’s what we do here at The HR Team. Give us a call.
About The HR Team, a Ravix Group company: Founded in 1996, The HR Team is a Maryland-based human resources outsourcing firm committed to developing strategic, customized solutions that respond to the unique needs and cultures of organizations of all types and sizes. Available as a one-source alternative to an in-house HR department or on an à la carte project basis, the company’s flexible service models address the full spectrum of HR needs that many organizations struggle to address. The HR Team helps clients achieve their highest level of success by providing value-driven human resources services that leave them time to focus on what they do best: directing business growth and profitability. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, the firm serves all of Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. To learn more about The HR Team, call 410.381.9700 or visit https://www.thehrteam.com/.
