Fraud and Risk Management Tools to Help Avoid Business Scams

July 16, 2025

Fraud and risk management have become crucial priorities for businesses in an increasingly complex financial landscape. From sophisticated email scams to unauthorized account debits, fraudulent activities present new challenges to organizations of all sizes.

Statistically, businesses lose about 5% of annual revenue every year due to fraud, according to the annual report from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

To stay ahead of the curve and minimize risk, businesses in the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast region should adopt robust fraud management practices that help safeguard their assets and decrease exposure to threats.

At Texas Gulf Bank, we specialize in providing risk management solutions tailored to meet the needs of our customers. Learn more about the latest business scams, the fraud strategies your business can use, and the tools our Treasury Management department offers to help protect your company from losses.

Common Business Scams and Fraudulent Activities

Fraudulent tactics are constantly evolving, and some schemes have become particularly pervasive. Here are the most common forms of fraud on our radar that we are helping businesses mitigate.

Business Email Compromise: In these cases, fraudsters spoof email* addresses or impersonate known contacts to request transfers or account access. Remember that banks will never ask you for this information.
*when the sender’s information in an email is ( like the “From” address) is changed to look like it came from a legitimate or trusted source
Fake Vendor Payment Requests: Businesses receive fraudulent requests for vendor payment updates or account changes.
Counterfeit Checks / Check Fraud Detection: Particularly risky for companies that mail checks, counterfeit or altered checks can lead to substantial financial losses. Our Check Positive Pay solution is one of the core tools we use to help detect fraud, intercepting these threats before they result in losses.
Unauthorized ACH Debits: Fraudsters attempt to create unauthorized electronic debits from business bank accounts.

We partner with businesses to identify potential red flags early and implement tailored fraud prevention and detection solutions. As an extension of your team, we provide guidance on existing controls to help mitigate fraud risk.

How Texas Gulf Bank Supports Risk Management

At TGB, fraud risk management strategies begin with a proactive, layered approach. Here’s how we actively support our local customers:

Customized Risk Reviews: During onboarding, we conduct fraud risk assessments to pinpoint vulnerabilities in business processes.
Advanced Fraud Prevention Tools: We offer solutions like Positive Pay, ACH Debit Filters, multi-factor authentication, and secure tokens to help strengthen your fraud risk management framework.
Ongoing Management & Education: Fraud tactics are always changing. That’s why we conduct annual reviews and keep businesses informed about evolving fraud tactics and the latest available tools.

Our goal is to provide the peace of mind that comes with knowing that utilizing our robust fraud risk management practices can help protect your assets.

Risk Management Tools and Their Benefits

To support our fraud management strategies, we utilize sophisticated tools that help create layers of protection for your business. Find out more about each of these powerful tools.

1. Alerts and Controls

Primary Use: Real-time alerts and custom security controls act as an early warning system for businesses.

Customers can set transaction alerts for unusual activities or large payments.
Key security alerts like unknown device logins are enabled by default.
Controls such as transaction limits, dual approval processes, and role-based user permissions can be implemented, creating another layer of protection by restricting access based on user responsibilities.

These features may allow your business to act quickly before funds are compromised, working to mitigate immediate risks.

2. Check Positive Pay (Check Fraud Detection)

Primary Use: Designed to combat check fraud, this powerful tool compares checks presented for payment to a list of authorized checks.

If there’s a mismatch, the check is flagged for review before being processed.
Our customers have successfully intercepted forged, altered, and counterfeit checks, collectively saving thousands of dollars.

This tool is essential for businesses that still issue physical checks and need advanced protection against check-related fraud.

3. ACH Positive Pay

Primary Use: Similar to check Positive Pay, our ACH payment tool protects against unauthorized wire transactions.

Debit blocks prevent ACH debits from specific accounts.
Filters allow pre-approvals for specific vendors or amounts, offering control over electronic withdrawals.

This solution helps prevent account takeovers and works to provide effective fraud prevention and detection for businesses sending and receiving ACH payments.

4. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Primary Uses: MFA adds a second layer of identification for login attempts.

Users must verify their identity using a code from a text message or authentication app.
Even if passwords are compromised, MFA blocks unauthorized access.

Texas Gulf Bank takes cybersecurity seriously with advanced protocols in place for online access. This method can reduce risks associated with phishing and password breaches.

5. Secure Token Authentication

Primary Use: Secure tokens safeguard high-risk transactions like ACH batches or wire transfers.

Tokens create unique, one-time codes required to complete these transactions.
We require token authentication for all outgoing ACH and wire payments, significantly decreasing the risk of credential-based fraud.

This extra measure enhances the security of sensitive transactions to prevent unauthorized interference.

Why Choose Our Bank for Fraud and Risk Management?

The depth and breadth of tools available to our customers highlight our Treasury Management team’s expertise in fraud risk management practices. Whether you’re a small business or a complex organization, you can count on us for custom support.

Tailored Protection Strategies: Our solutions are designed to meet the unique risk profiles of businesses to provide effective fraud risk management.
Decades of Experience: Your business can take advantage of a knowledgeable team that understands fraud and stays ahead of new fraud trends.
Advanced Technology: We use cutting-edge technology, such as machine learning, data analytics, and AI, to help prevent fraud before it impacts your business.
Hands-On Support: We foster long-term partnerships with our customers by implementing tools, educating your teams, and reaffirming fraud awareness.
Custom Solutions: We do not subscribe to a one-size-fits-all approach like you might find elsewhere. Instead, we offer layered protection strategies tailored to each business’s specific risk profile.

Partner with Texas Gulf Bank for Timely Business Fraud Solutions

Investing in fraud and risk management is no longer optional in today’s world. Proactively safeguarding your assets may help prevent financial losses, enabling you to continue investing in your business.

Think of it like this. What could you do with 5% of annual revenue if you could invest it in business operations instead of losing it to fraud? We’re here to help you maximize every dollar your business earns.

By working with Texas Gulf Bank, you gain access to a trusted human team to help you navigate risk management with confidence. From tailored fraud risk management programs to responsive, in-person support, we’re ready to help you maintain a healthy security posture.

Contact our Treasury Management team today to learn more about managing the risk of fraud and incorporating our tools into your operations.

Services offered through the Treasury Services Department are fee-based and subject to approval.