Border Region · Digital Safety
Digital safety for trades in the Border Region
How local businesses in Cavan & Fermanagh protect phones, jobs and cashflow – without complicated tech or corporate nonsense.
Published · · Smart Trades Training
Quick summary
- • Trades are increasingly targeted by WhatsApp and invoice scams.
- • Most incidents are preventable with simple phone and payment rules.
- • Local support resolves problems faster than national hotlines.
Why trades are targeted so often
Trades sit at the intersection of money, schedules, suppliers and customer trust. That makes them an ideal target for scams that rely on urgency and routine.
Common scam patterns we see locally
- Fake supplier invoices with changed IBANs
- Cloned WhatsApp accounts pretending to be clients or staff
- “Urgent job requests” asking for deposits
Short explanation (video)
Questions people often ask
How can I tell if a WhatsApp message is fake?
Scammers rely on urgency, unusual payment requests and changes in tone. When in doubt, pause and verify via a second channel.
Is this only a problem for big companies?
No. Small and local trades are targeted more often because processes are informal and trust-based.
Facts & comparisons
- • Average loss per incident in small trades: €3,000–€7,000
- • Local IT support resolves incidents ~3× faster
- • Simple rules reduce risk dramatically
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