Counter Fraud Team alert: 'The Big Classroom'

Potentially a fraudster has managed to hack into a teachers school email account.

A school in the county has received a £498 bill from The Big Classroom. The bill is in relation to the school signing up for the free trial to The Big Classrooms service, but then not cancelling before the paid subscription began. The school have challenged the subscription as they were unaware they had even signed up for the free trial.

On investigation The Big Class room state they received an email from the schools Head Teacher confirming the subscription, but when this was reviewed by IT it was found that the IP address for the email was not one used by the school.

According to this article from Schools Week there have been numerous issues reported by schools and councils across the country in relation to The Big Classroom.

The attempted fraud was reported to KCC Counter Fraud Team at internal.audit@kent.gov.uk.

Actions

Ensure you don’t share your passwords, do not use an easily guessed password as fraudsters will do open-source checks to find out information such as social media.

Whenever you get an email asking for any bank account payment details to be changed, be that staff, contractors, suppliers always check with the contact details you already have with that person or company.

If you notice that a received invoice is different or the payment details are not the same as those on record, check again with the sender that the information is correct.

A phone call is best as if the subjects email or online accounts have been targeted the fraudster may be monitoring them.

Also use a phone number you already have on record and not one that is contained within the email requesting the change, the fraudster will control any phone number they email to you.

Criminals are experts at impersonating people, businesses and the police. They spend hours researching your business for their scams, hoping you will let your guard down for just a moment.

Remember

Stop: If you receive a request to make an urgent payment, change supplier bank details or provide financial information, take a moment to stop and think.

Challenge: Could it be fake? Verify all payments and supplier details directly with the company or individual on a known phone number or in person first.

Protect: Contact your business’ bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Advice can be found on the Take Five website:

• Take Five - general advice
• Take Five - business advice