CEO fraud is never accidental. Cybercriminals carefully plan these attacks, exploiting trust, hierarchy and urgency. They typically target employees in finance, administration or management who have access to payments or sensitive information.
The e-learning How to Prevent CEO Fraud builds on How to Recognise CEO Fraud and focuses on prevention and action. The course explains how attacks are constructed step by step and, more importantly, how to stop them in time.
Through realistic scenarios, participants learn how criminals impersonate CEOs, directors, suppliers or external consultants. They gather information in advance via social media, email and phone calls, and strike when the real CEO is difficult to reach, such as during international travel.
A key focus is verification and control. Participants learn why email alone is never sufficient for financial requests, how subtle changes in writing style or email addresses can signal fraud, and why a second communication channel is always required. The course stresses never to call phone numbers listed in emails, but to use verified internal contact details instead.
Organisational safeguards are also covered, including following established procedures, applying the four-eyes principle, verifying bank account numbers and handling requests that deviate from normal processes. The course highlights that even requests that appear legitimate can still be part of an attack.
Technical safeguards are addressed as well, such as:
- multi-factor authentication
- strong and unique passwords
- up-to-date software and browsers
- antimalware protection
Finally, participants learn what to do if something does go wrong. Prompt reporting to IT or the helpdesk greatly increases the chances of limiting damage. The course emphasises that reporting incidents is always better than staying silent.
What will participants learn?
After completing this course, participants will:
- understand how CEO fraud attacks are executed
- recognise warning signs such as urgency, secrecy and unusual requests
- know how and when to verify financial instructions
- understand the importance of procedures and the four-eyes principle
- safely handle invoices and payment requests
- know how to act in case of doubt or a (near) incident
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for:
- finance, administrative and management staff
- employees with payment authority
- organisations aiming to prevent financial fraud
- teams strengthening security awareness
Why this course is relevant right now
CEO fraud remains one of the most effective cybercrime techniques. Teaching employees not only how to recognise fraud, but how to respond correctly, significantly reduces the risk of financial and reputational damage.