What is Social Engineering and How Do I Protect My Business from It?

Social engineering is on the rise, and that is just a fancy term for bad guys trying to steal your money!  Your best defense is to be on guard and confirm the legitimacy of all payment requests.

1)      Implement Controls on Payment Authorization – Keeping more than one person involved in all payment transactions will add a second set of eyes to confirm the legitimacy of the request.

2)      Verify the Vendor – Require vendor onboarding for additional scrutiny and confirmation of legitimacy.  Pay only documented vendors.

3)      Use MFA for email and financial systems – Multi Factor Authentication is a higher level of protection for your systems.

4)      Ensure that all Staff follows standardized workflows and reports any suspicious requests.  Conduct Staff training on the latest phishing indicators and impersonation scenarios.

 U   Use Anti Fraud Ink on checks - use special ink on any mailed checks that cannot be erased/modified.

According to RPS, there were over $3billion in losses in 2025 and the number keeps growing.  Don’t become part of the statistics!

Things to watch for:

-          Emails –thieves are becoming more sophisticated which makes the threat harder to detect.  Avoid clicking email links.  Call directly to confirm legitimacy of the request.

-          Phone calls – voices are being cloned and may sound like someone you may know.  Always directly confirm any uncommon requests following any call.

-          Zoom meetings – avoid online meetings with any irregular parties. 

-          Requests for Wire Transfers – watch for spoofed requests or unusual bank accounts

-          Synthetic voices – as the theft sophistication evolves, watch for multi-channel impersonation which may use email and phone and online meetings.

Thanks to RPS (Risk Placement Services) for their recent Client Advisory highlighting this growing concern. https://www.rpsins.com/products-and-programs/cyber-insurance/

Angelyn Treutel Zeringue is President of SouthGroup Insurance Services, a CPA, PWCAM, CBIA, and licensed Trusted Choice Insurance Agent.  Reach Angelyn at www.southgroupgulfcoast.com, (228) 385-1177, or azeringue@southgroup.net.

Your Trusted Choice Insurance Agent, SouthGroup Insurance Gulf Coast wants you to know you can call on us with your questions or concerns seeking more helpful advice or answers to your pressing insurance questions. A full insurance review is always your best bet to make sure you have all of the adequate coverage for your personal insurance needs. Remember, we offer a personalized insurance review to anyone who is interested at no charge – just visit any one of our convenient locations!

To help you through the maze of coverages, carriers, premiums, and find ways to save money on your insurance, if you are on the Gulf Coast, contact your Trusted Choice agent, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com/ , SERVICE TEAM: Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Anne Gillam, Mark Strickland, Joseph Eagle, Michael Scardino, Melinda Teaford, Wendy Butler, Gabriella Scardino, Tiffany Nguyen, Alexa Weldon, Denise Pickers and Brittany Eagle at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: info@southgroupgulfcoast.com, phone or text:228-466-4498 or 228-385-1177, fax:888-415-8922, FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast , or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel ! We now have more locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi and 412 Hwy 90 Ste 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS.

We offer the following Lines of Coverage: Workers Compensation, Auto, Home, Life, Health, Disability, Motorcycle, Boat, Wind, Flood, Commercial Property, General Liability, Directors and Officers Liability, Bonds, Group and Individual Life/Health/Dental/Disability/ Vision/Long Term Care, Business Owners, Builders Risk, Commercial Crime, Errors and Omissions, Dwelling Fire, Commercial Flood, Group Accident, Garage Dealers, Inland Marine, Law Enforcement Liability, Pollution Liability, Professional Liability, Personal Umbrella, Commercial Fire, Commercial Umbrella, Excess Flood, Identity Theft, more…

We serve Alabama - District of Columbia - Florida -Georgia - Indiana - Kentucky - Louisiana - Michigan - Mississippi - Missouri - North Carolina - Ohio - Pennsylvania - South Carolina - Tennessee - Texas – Virginia.  We specialize in coastal exposures.
Insurance is stressful, but we make saving easy.  We help you save money on insurance! Save time, money and stress!
#trustedchoice #southgroup
#southgroup   @stateauto  @libertymutual @TRV_insurance @safecoinsurance @progressive #savemoney @atreutel

Flood Waters are Rising - Don't Be Caught Without Insurance

Anywhere it rains, it can flood. I often hear people say that it could never flood where they are, and I have learned to never say never.  Areas that never flooded before have been flooding due to nearby developments or natural/man-made changes in the geographic area. Even if you live in an area of that you think isn’t at risk, preparation is just as critical as with other types of exposures.

Flood damage is typically not covered by your business property insurance, homeowners or renters insurance. There are specialized flood insurance programs offered by FEMA and many private companies to assist with repairs and replacing your structure or contents due to damage caused by rising water.  Depending on your proximity to a water source such as a river or tidal waters, your rate could be high unless you mitigate the possibility of damage. 

When you allow water to pass through the foundation or ground floor by the use of venting, you reduce the possibility of structural damage by relieving hydrostatic water pressure.  Elevated structures and elevated home equipment, such as air conditioners and generators, are more protected from rising water. Land grading, storm drains, and cleared gutters help to divert water from around your structure.

Flooding will cause emotional stress along with physical hazards, so be mindful of the well-being of you and your family during the aftermath. Floodwater is often contaminated by oil, gasoline or sewage, not to mention displaced animals, so avoid contact as much as possible.  Make sure your city’s water supply is safe to drink.  Boil-orders may be issued.

If you don’t have flood insurance, contact a local insurance agent to obtain it, as there are waiting periods before coverage becomes effective. Be sure to plan ahead, and never let your insurance coverage lapse.  There are penalties for losing your coverage, and your rate could increase by thousands per year to replace the coverage. Yesterday, I assisted someone who had lost their coverage and they had been paying $900, and now the rate is over $3000 for the same coverage level.  The flood insurance premium is based on your specific property including the distance from a body of water, the type and frequency of historical flooding in your area, the elevation of the lowest floor of your structure, and the estimated replacement cost of your building.  Each building needs to be insured separately in most cases.

Flooding is one of the most common hazards in the U.S. Being prepared for any emergency is crucial for the safety of you and your family. Don’t be caught off guard!

Angelyn Treutel Zeringue is President of SouthGroup Insurance Services, a CPA, PWCAM, CBIA, and licensed Trusted Choice Insurance Agent.  Reach Angelyn at www.southgroupgulfcoast.com, (228) 385-1177, or azeringue@southgroup.net.

Your Trusted Choice Insurance Agent, SouthGroup Insurance Gulf Coast wants you to know you can call on us with your questions or concerns seeking more helpful advice or answers to your pressing insurance questions. A full insurance review is always your best bet to make sure you have all of the adequate coverage for your personal insurance needs. Remember, we offer a personalized insurance review to anyone who is interested at no charge – just visit any one of our convenient locations!

To help you through the maze of coverages, carriers, premiums, and find ways to save money on your insurance, if you are on the Gulf Coast, contact your Trusted Choice agent, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com/ , SERVICE TEAM: Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Melissa Dunn,  Anne Gillam, Mark Strickland, Joseph Eagle, Michael Scardino, Melinda Teaford, Wendy Butler, Gabriella Scardino, Tiffany Nguyen, Alexa Weldon, Denise Pickers and Brittany Eagle at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: info@southgroupgulfcoast.com, phone or text:228-466-4498 or 228-385-1177, fax:888-415-8922, FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast , or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel ! We now have more locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi and 412 Hwy 90 Ste 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS.

We offer the following Lines of Coverage: Workers Compensation, Auto, Home, Life, Health, Disability, Motorcycle, Boat, Wind, Flood, Commercial Property, General Liability, Directors and Officers Liability, Bonds, Group and Individual Life/Health/Dental/Disability/ Vision/Long Term Care, Business Owners, Builders Risk, Commercial Crime, Errors and Omissions, Dwelling Fire, Commercial Flood, Group Accident, Garage Dealers, Inland Marine, Law Enforcement Liability, Pollution Liability, Professional Liability, Personal Umbrella, Commercial Fire, Commercial Umbrella, Excess Flood, Identity Theft, more…

We serve Alabama - District of Columbia - Florida -Georgia - Indiana - Kentucky - Louisiana - Michigan - Mississippi - Missouri - North Carolina - Ohio - Pennsylvania - South Carolina - Tennessee - Texas – Virginia.  We specialize in coastal exposures.
Insurance is stressful, but we make saving easy.  We help you save money on insurance! Save time, money and stress!
#trustedchoice #southgroup
#southgroup   @stateauto  @libertymutual @TRV_insurance @safecoinsurance @progressive #savemoney @atreutel