And What You Can Learn From It
At PhasedLogix, we’re proud to be your trusted IT partner in St. Charles County, delivering personalized technology solutions and top-tier customer service. Today, we’re sharing a real-world cybersecurity incident that highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity for small businesses, and how you can protect your organization from similar threats.
This story is a powerful reminder of why cybersecurity for small businesses in St. Charles MO is more important than ever.
📞 Cybersecurity for Small Businesses: The Call That Triggered a Costly Mistake
Dr. Karen Patel, an administrator at Westview Medical Group, received an urgent voicemail from someone claiming to be with MedEquip Solutions, a vendor she trusted. The caller warned of an overdue invoice that needed immediate payment to avoid supply delays.
Shortly after, Dr. Patel received a follow-up email from billing@medequip-solutions.com. It looked legitimate and included a payment link. Wanting to avoid disruptions, she called the number from the voicemail, spoke to a representative, and processed an ACH transfer — a direct bank-to-bank payment — for $18,750.
Days later, the real MedEquip Solutions reached out about a different outstanding invoice. That’s when Dr. Patel realized she had been scammed.
🕵️♀️ What Happened? A TOAD Attack in Action
This was a TOAD attack — Telephone-Oriented Attack Delivery. Cybercriminals used:
- Voicemail phishing to create urgency
- Email spoofing to mimic a trusted vendor
- Caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate
- ACH payment requests, which are difficult to reverse
They exploited trust, urgency, and familiarity — and it worked.
🚩 Cybersecurity for Small Businesses: Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Urgency: The caller and email both emphasized immediate payment to avoid supply issues.
- Unverified contact info: Dr. Patel used the phone number and email provided in the scam, not ones she already trusted.
- ACH transfer: Unlike credit card payments, ACH transfers are harder to trace and reverse.
How to Protect Your Business
At PhasedLogix, we help businesses like yours stay ahead of cyber threats. Here’s what we recommend:
Always Verify Financial Requests
Use known contact information — not what’s provided in a suspicious message. Call your vendor directly using a number from your records or their official website.
Be Wary of Urgency
Scammers often create pressure to act fast. Take a moment to verify before you respond.
Educate Your Team
Cybersecurity is a team effort. Make sure your staff knows how to spot phishing attempts and suspicious behavior.
Let’s Talk About Cybersecurity for Small Businesses in St. Charles, MO
This incident is a powerful reminder that even trusted relationships can be exploited. At PhasedLogix, we offer:
- Cybersecurity assessments
- Employee training
- Email and network protection
- Ongoing IT support tailored to your business
Based right here in St. Charles, MO, we’re committed to helping local businesses stay secure and thrive in a digital world.
Ready to Fortify Your Defenses?
Let’s make sure your business is protected. Contact PhasedLogix today to schedule a consultation or learn more about our cybersecurity services for small businesses in St. Charles, MO.
Choose PhasedLogix as your IT partner and experience the difference that dedicated, hard-working tech professionals can make on your journey to success. www.PhasedLogix.com
