CYBER crime experts will reveal the latest online threat to businesses – and how they can protect themselves – at a series of lectures in Wiltshire.

Four talks, organised by the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust’s Stay Safe Online team, will be given by UK Finance’s fraud and cybercrime prevention manager Paul Maskall and Catriona Still, head of fraud prevention at UK Finance’s Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit.

Mr Maskall appears regularly on BBC Crimewatch Live, Rip Off Britain, and BBC Radio 1Xtra while Ms Still works with the UK banking industry.

The lectures will take place monthly at The Parade Cinema in Marlborough, beginning in February.

Toni Evans, the trust’s Stay Safe Online manager, said: “Our mission at the Bobby Van Trust is to do all we can to keep people safe from crime and this is the fastest growing crime we face. Paul and Catriona are acknowledged leaders in their field who will be talking about the latest trends and the psychological and technological tricks criminals are using.

“The threat to businesses and individuals from cyber criminals is evolving all the time and while they may think they are doing all they can to protect themselves, the frightening truth is that the fraudsters are always one step ahead.

“The UK Government Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 revealed 50 per cent of UK businesses suffered a cyber-attack or security breach in the last year, with the average cost to remedy an attack coming in at £21,000.”

She said 560,000 new cyber threats are discovered daily and 81 per cent of all UK businesses who suffer a cyber security attack are SMEs.

The first one-hour lecture, on February 20, will look at the role technology plays in making businesses vulnerable, recognising and understanding threats, tricks used to manipulate and deceive and strategies to combat them.

The second, on March 20, will focus on how criminals are exploiting AI and deepfakes, how AI can exploit businesses’ online vulnerabilities and how to recognise an AI fraud.

The third lecture, on April 24, looks at the psychology of manipulation, how criminals use it to overcome victims’ concerns and keep them under their influence, together with strategies to prevent it. The lecture will also unpick a real-time manipulation to show how it plays out.

The final lecture on May 22 will feature case studies, including examining a real-world fraud case from beginning to end and analysing the specific techniques used to exploit vulnerabilities.

READ MORE: Click here for more business news from your Salisbury & Avon Gazette

Each lecture costs £35, include refreshments, and begins at 9.15am with a networking opportunity afterwards. Participants who book all four lectures pay £30 for each one.

The charity’s Stay Safe Online volunteers carry out free home visits or group talks to anyone over 60, or over 18 if they have a registered disability, providing easy to follow guidance, help improve digital/cyber security awareness, offer cyber and scam prevention advice, signpost further advice and resources, provide support and reassurance and offer basic practical skills to enable people to check and understand privacy settings.

Ms Evans added: “Paul and Catriona will be sharing up to the minute information that is affecting thousands of businesses every day. They will provide real understanding of the way cyber criminals work and share some practical real world advice on how to guard against them.

“This is an invaluable opportunity for businesses to learn more about the very real threats that are out there.”
Booking is essential as places are limited via wiltshirebobbyvan.org.uk/future-events or on 01225 256867.

For more about the work of the charity, visit wiltshirebobbyvan.org.uk.