On March 6, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released tips and a video to businesses that have been impersonated by Phishing schemes.
The guidance, entitled “Has a phishing scam hooked your company’s good name?” provides businesses with several tips to respond to being impersonated through a phishing scheme.
The tips include:
- Notify and alert customers through social media, email and letter that you are being impersonated
- Contact law enforcement
- Provide resources to affected customers, such as referring them to www.identitytheft.com and the FTC’s website
- Review security practices and improve on any weaknesses and lessons learned
Although consumers are frequently the ones who we concentrate on when discussing phishing incidents, it is easy to forget that businesses can be victims too. This guidance reminds us that businesses are being impersonated every day and their brands are being harmed. Being prepared for this scam and responding appropriately are key to reducing harm to consumers and businesses.