FBI Warns Employers of Phishing Attacks, Offers Recommendations

Implementing frequent and targeted phishing tests can prevent payroll security breaches, a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent told payroll professionals on March 21.

Phishing attacks are among the biggest threat to employers as criminals have greater access to publicly available information. Criminals are increasingly relying on this data to craft specifically targeted attacks aimed at replicating an employer’s internal communications. In 2022, the FBI reported the highest annual loss from online scams in the last five years.

Criminals are crafting targeted emails with publicly available information to trick employers, said Kyriokos Vassilakos, a special agent with the FBI’s Criminal and ...