[B]usinesses in Cumbria are to get the chance to learn from the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner in a special event aimed to help them avoid the latest scams used by fraudsters targeting the region.
Peter McCall is to speak at the free event, hosted by Lloyds Banking Group and accountants, business and financial advisers Armstrong Watson LLP, in an attempt to give an insight into the reality of cybercrime in the region.
He said: “Cybercrime is one of the most rapidly developing areas of criminal activity and it affects us all – individuals, organisations and business.
“The potential impact is huge, as we saw only last month with the WannaCry attack that affected some NHS systems.
“We all need to understand the threat and collectively work to protect ourselves and to prosecute offenders.”
Vin Pandha, commercial fraud manager at Lloyds Banking Group, will also run a practical advice session including steps to prevent fraud, and highlighting recent scams and how to keep your business safe.
She said: “Cyber enabled fraud is a real and current threat that is becoming ever more sophisticated, and this event is designed to help business leaders understand and respond to the criminals who are targeting their firms in Cumbria and across the UK.
“By raising awareness of fraud and cybercrime we are working to make the UK a safer place to do business, ultimately helping Britain prosper.”
Graham Poles, partner at Armstrong Watson, will speak on HMRC fraud and address how individuals and businesses can best protect themselves from email scams.
He said: “Fraud is something that has far reaching consequences for a business of any size. We feel that it’s particularly relevant right now.
“Our aim is to inform, guide and support local businesses and this high-profile event will help business owners understand what’s going on right now and what measures they can look at to help prevent it.”
Fraud Education & Awareness Breakfast
Thursday, June 22, 8am – 10am
The Halston, Warwick Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1DN
Price: Free
To sign up for the free event, please email Nicola.n.mcfarlane@lloydsbanking.com.
