WHILE NFU Mutual’s Rural Crime Report has put the industry focus on the physical theft of machinery and livestock, a leading banker has stressed that farmers must not to forget cyber fraud when considering the criminal threats facing their businesses.

Lloyds Banking Group's UK head of agriculture Andrew Naylor pointed out that farmers are increasingly being targeted in scams that are simple but effective, especially at times of the year when subsidies are being paid. Fraud orchestrated by organised crime groups targeting farming businesses has, he warned, seen many attempts run into six figure sums.

"It’s worth remembering that a flock can be stolen in one night, but an amount worth multiple flocks can be stolen in just a few clicks," said Mr Naylor. "We urge farmers to be vigilant and protect themselves."

He recommended that farmers using computers should:

• Have good quality Anti-Virus software in place;

• Ensure their Firewalls are switched on;

• Run software patch updates as quickly as possible;

• Never divulge full passwords, PIN numbers or Card/Reader generated codes, because banks will never ask for this information;

• Always authenticate a phone call from your bank by calling back using a publicly published number, especially if you’re asked to provide security credentials, using a different phone line if possible;

• If you’re presented with an unusual request or pop-up during an online Banking session asking you to enter security information, close the session and check with your Bank’s Online Banking Helpdesk;

• Do not rely on the number presented on your phone as being genuine.