Small businesses are increasingly targets for identity theft and fraud.
Sensitive information goes up for sale on the Dark Web — a huge marketplace for stolen data. And it grows after each data breach or hacking incident.
Once a scammer has your sensitive information (EIN, account numbers and more), it’s relatively easy to submit a loan application in your name, file a fake tax return, open a credit card and much more.
There are steps you can take to help protect your business. But the real key is monitoring for suspicious activity:
- Watch for changes in your business credit score
- Review your statements
- Keep an eye out for anything unusual
Defending your business can be time consuming. Start with:
- Dark Web Monitoring—scan websites, chat rooms, and forums to see if your information is for sale.
- Business Credit Monitoring—access to your credit score.