Preventing fraud is at the forefront of my mind as a treasury solutions officer . From checks being stolen in the mail to ACH debit fraud to payment app scams , financial fraud cases are increasing and affecting industries across the state .

In my 18 years in the Alabama banking industry , I ’ ve seen it all and advise business clients of all types to put cyber financial security at the front of their financial plan .

Here are five tips I give my clients to help protect their businesses from a financial breach :

1 | Review your recent business transactions . One of the simplest ways to keep your finances secure is to check your accounts each day . Some scams start so small you may not notice the impact on your monthly statement , but chances are that you would notice it as part of a daily check-in .

2 | Reduce physical check writing . Writing a physical check can put your business at risk . Often physical checks are sent through the mail where interception is possible . Also , because checks display the full account number , your information is at risk of being intercepted and duplicated . Minimizing the use of physical checks decreases the chance of fraud .

3 | Use electronic payments instead of checks . As mentioned above , checks can be intercepted , while ACH transfers are electronic and secure . Sending electronic payments is a simple way to prevent account numbers from being taken . If you must send a payment in the mail , make sure to put it in a nondescript envelope . Never use a window envelope for a check .

4 | Use Check and ACH Positive Pay as the gatekeeper of your transactions . Most banks offer Positive Pay , a service

that allows businesses to review all transaction amounts and payee information before payments are processed . Check and ACH fraud occurs every day , but having Positive Pay in place allows a business to deny any unauthorized transactions .

5 | Develop a relationship with your banker . Discuss your business cash flow with your banker . This will allow them to provide tools tailored to your company that serve as a line of defense to protect your company assets .

The frequency of fraud continues to escalate , and fraudsters are constantly thinking of ways to take your business ’ money . It ’ s essential to be vigilant and to take proactive measures to protect your business .

Lauren Lafferty is a VP Treasury Sales Officer for Valley Bank , based in the Birmingham office . She has been in the banking industry for 18 years .