The email that costs you the most this season probably won't look like a scam.

The email that costs you the most this season probably won't look like a scam.

It'll look like a vendor you've paid for years. Same logo, same tone. "We've changed banks. Please send this month's payment to the new account."

Public Private Strategies Institute and Morning Consult surveyed 506 small business owners last December. 72% had been hit by some kind of fraud, scam, or ransomware attempt in the past year. Fake invoices and vendor fraud each showed up for 15%. Among owners hit by email scams, the average loss was more than $90,000. Only 31% said they felt well prepared for impersonation scams.

This time of year makes it easier. More invoices, more rush, more people covering for each other.

One rule closes most of the gap. Nobody changes where money goes because of an email. They pick up the phone and call the number you already had, not the one in the message.

Two more help. A new payee or changed account needs a second person's OK before money moves. And whoever pays the bills knows they'll never get in trouble for slowing down a payment to check.

None of it needs new software. It needs a habit, written down, before the busy weeks start.

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