Safer Internet Day 2025: Protect Your Business and Clients from Online Scams

As Safer Internet Day 2025 approaches on Tuesday 11th February, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how businesses can protect themselves and their clients from the growing threat of online scams. This year’s theme, ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online,’ highlights the importance of staying vigilant and informed in an increasingly digital world.

At MCS, we work with businesses every day to strengthen their cyber security posture and ensure they’re equipped to tackle online threats, so we’ve pulled together key things you need to know about online scams and how to protect your business.

The Rise of Online Scams: A Growing Threat

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, leveraging everything from phishing emails to fake websites, ransomware, and social engineering tactics to exploit individuals and businesses. Research by Visa revealed that two in five UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have lost money to fraud, with an average loss of almost £4,000 per incident.

But it’s not just financial loss at stake — online scams can damage your reputation, expose sensitive data, and erode trust with your clients.

Key Types of Online Scams Targeting Businesses

Phishing Emails

Fake emails that appear legitimate can trick employees into revealing passwords, downloading malware, or making fraudulent payments.

Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Cybercriminals impersonate executives or suppliers to request urgent, unauthorised transfers of funds.

Fake Invoices and Payment Redirects

Scammers target finance teams with fraudulent invoices, often disguised as regular vendors or suppliers.

Ransomware Attacks

Clicking on a malicious link or downloading an infected file can lock your systems until a ransom is paid.

Social Engineering

Hackers manipulate employees to gain access to sensitive systems or information.

How to Protect Your Business and Clients

This Safer Internet Day, take action to safeguard your business and clients from scams with these tips:

1. Train Your Team to Spot Scams
Invest in regular cyber security training for employees. Teach them to identify phishing emails, verify unusual requests, and report suspicious activity.

2. Implement Robust Security Measures
Ensure your business has strong defences in place:

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts.
• A reliable email filtering solution to block spam and phishing attempts.

Adopt a "never trust, always verify" approach to access controls. This means restricting access to sensitive systems unless users can prove their identity and need for access.

4. Verify Before You Act
Encourage employees to verify requests for sensitive information or payments, especially if they seem urgent or unexpected. Always confirm requests using trusted communication channels.

5. Keep Software and Systems Updated
Outdated software can have vulnerabilities that scammers exploit. Ensure all operating systems, applications, and security tools are regularly patched.

6. Work with an MSP for Proactive Protection
Partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) ensures your business stays one step ahead of cybercriminals. From 24/7 monitoring to advanced threat detection, we help you mitigate risks and respond swiftly to incidents.

Empowering Businesses to Stay Safe Online

Safer Internet Day isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about taking action to create a safer digital environment for everyone.

Let’s use this day as an opportunity to review your cyber security strategy, educate your employees, and build resilience against ever-evolving threats.

How We Can Help

If you’re unsure where to start or want to strengthen your defences, then take our free Cyber Security assessment to get your instant cyber score. This will give you a better understanding of just how equipped you are to prevent a cyber-attack or data breach.