LAFAYETTE, La. ( KLFY ) — Scammers are targeting businesses to steal private information from customers and employees, leading to identity theft and financial compromise.

Recently, cybercriminals attacked a large Acadiana company, probably stealing information on their customers.

“That was one day thought of something that didn’t happen too often, it happens nowadays to all kinds of companies of different sizes, regardless of what they do,” Better Business Bureau Chris Babin said. “It’s typically because they don’t have the right protections in place protecting their computer system, protecting their network from these scammers.”

Babin said scammers usually target consumers’ payment information and employees’ personal identifiable information.

“For instance, a business that is a retail outlet that consumers are always swiping their credit cards to pay for items- How is that information stored at the business? Is it something that is deleted automatically once the card swiped in the transactions done? Is that information stored then in the computer that the register may be hooked up to?”

Businesses should pay extra attention to protecting special data like information on children and criminal background checks on employees.

“Look at those special categories and make sure that you’re not only protecting it, but that you’re in compliance with organizations that have regulations,” Babin said.

To protect private information, the Better Business Bureau said businesses should secure their network from cyberattacks and create a culture of privacy in the office.

“Create processes and policies that protect identity and protect data and make sure all of your employees are on board with that and are following those,” Babin said. “Then, that’s how you can start creating a culture of privacy protection within your own organization.”

The Better Business Bureau said it’s up to the business to protect the information it collects of its consumers and employees, so their identity or financial information doesn’t get compromised.

The BBB advises businesses to get rid of any unnecessary, private information on customers and employees. You can shred these documents at the Better Business Bureau’s “Shred Day” this Saturday at the Acadiana Mall from 8 a.m. until noon.

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