Dayton Bank and FBI Lead Fraud Prevention Workshop
Local business owners received guidance on mitigating financial risks amid rising national cyber crime losses.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Representatives from Fifth Third Bank and the FBI hosted a workshop in Dayton to educate local business owners on evolving cyber threats. The event focused on strategies to counter sophisticated social engineering tactics.
Why it matters
Business owners face heightened risks as criminals increasingly utilize AI to perform elaborate scams. Understanding these methods is essential for protecting sensitive financial information from digital threats.
Official government reporting identified $20.9 billion in total cyber crime losses during 2025. This figure reflects a 26% increase over the 2024 baseline, with online fraud representing 85% of those total losses.
The players
Fifth Third Bank
A diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, that provides banking and investment solutions.
FBI
The domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency.
The details
Scammers are now using AI tools to harvest data from the dark web and create realistic fake communications. These fraudsters frequently employ phishing, spoofing, extortion, and investment scams to manipulate victims into sharing confidential details.
Timeline
2024 served as the baseline year for calculating cyber crime losses.
Total losses from cyber crime reached $20.9 billion during 2025.
The fraud prevention workshop took place in Dayton on October 15, 2026.
Legal Context
The surge in digital criminal activity mirrors data patterns established by the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reporting standards. This workshop marks a proactive effort to align local business defenses with these national threat trends.
Local business owners in Dayton are encouraged to implement stricter verification processes for all communications. Staying alert to spoofing and phishing attempts remains the primary defense against losing company assets to cybercriminals.
The takeaway
Business owners should treat all unsolicited communications with extreme skepticism, regardless of how legitimate they appear. Implementing multi-factor authentication and regular employee training can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to social engineering.
Further reading
Learn more about local safety initiatives in Dayton Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WYSO.
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Do you feel your local business is well-protected against the rise of AI-powered financial fraud?
