Fraud Prevention 101 for Entrepreneurs
Scammers target small businesses with fake invoices, phishing, payroll and vendor payment redirects, and AI-powered impersonation. In this webinar, you’ll see how modern scams actually run using real case patterns, the red flags you can spot fast, and a practical checklist to harden email, payments, and staff habits before money leaves your account, without buying a pile of new tools.
???? What you’ll learn in this session:
- What today’s scam operations look like end-to-end (from first contact to cash-out)
- The most common small business hits: invoice fraud, vendor change requests, payroll diversion, and BEC (Business Email Compromise)
- How AI is being used for impersonation, urgency, and “professional” looking bait
- A quick triage checklist for suspicious emails, calls, and payment change requests
- Low-cost controls that stop most fraud: verification steps, MFA, and email account hardening
You’ll walk away with the confidence and practical tools to recognize threats early, respond quickly, and keep your business safe.
About the Speaker:
William Downing (LinkedIn)
Cybersecurity Consultant & Investigator
William Downing is the founder of Blue Shield Cyber Protection in Edmonton. A former police and parole officer, he now investigates online scams and business email compromise, and trains SMBs, libraries, and community groups to prevent fraud, phishing, and account takeovers. To date, he has investigated dozens of scams totalling over $2 million of stolen assets.
Learn more about William and his work: www.blueshieldsec.com
Please Note:
This webinar will be recorded and made available publicly on our YouTube channel.
- January 22, 2026 11:00 am
- Thursday
- Virtual
- Free
- Online