Info Session – Scam Watch: Be Aware. Be Ahead

Fraudsters are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, targeting not only individuals, but also businesses of all sizes. The reality is that no company is immune to their attacks.

One of the most pressing threats for businesses today is Business Email Compromise (BEC) Fraud. Also known as the man-in-the-middle attack, this is a silent crime, that can drain company accounts in minutes, resulting in large financial losses. In 2024 alone, Bank of Valletta recorded 23 such cases, amounting to €1.5 million being defrauded from victims. Alarmingly, the number of incidents has risen sharply in the first six months of 2025, and the fraudsters show no signs of slowing down.

BEC attacks are just one example of the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting the business community. Criminals exploit urgency, fear, and trust to push their victims into acting without thinking. A slightly unusual tone in an email, an unexpected invoice from a trusted supplier, a last-minute request to change bank details – these are potential warning signs. Yet, in the rush of daily business, such red flags can easily be overlooked. That is why Bank of Valletta and The Malta Chamber have teamed up to deliver an exclusive, powerful and practical info session which will give you and your teams the tools and knowledge to spot scams. You will hear directly from experts who will:

• Explain the latest tactics fraudsters are using against Maltese businesses.
• Share real-life case studies showing how scams unfold.
• Highlight the red flags that should make one stop and think before clicking to respond.
• Provide simple, actionable steps one can put in place to strengthen defences.

This session will also give the chance to ask questions, discuss challenges and learn from the experiences of other businesses who have been targeted.

Why should you attend?

Because prevention is far less costly than recovery. Once the money is gone, it is often impossible to get it back. Investing just a couple of hours of your time could save your business thousands – or even more. Cybercrime is not going away, but with the right awareness and strategies, you can stay one step ahead.

Be Aware. Be Ahead. Protect Your Business.

SPEAKERS

AGENDA

08:30 | Welcome coffee + registration

09:00 | Welcome speech by Host

09:05 | Speech by Dr Marthese Portelli, CEO, The Malta Chamber

09:15 | Speech by Kenneth Farrugia, CEO, BOV

09:25 | Keynote speech on ‘The 2025 scam landscape’ by Ryan Caruana, Group Chief AFC & MLRO, BOV

10:00 | Case study by Mark Falzon, Deputy MLRO – Head AFC Investigations, BOV

10:30 | Coffee break

10:50 | Presentation on ‘Prevention that actually works’ by Carmel Vella, Head of IT & Cyber Security, BOV

11:20 | Presentation on ‘Incident response and reporting’ by Ryan Caruana, Mark Falzon and Carmel Vella

11:45 | Q&A

12:10 | Closing and next steps

12:20 | Networking

Non members are only allowed a maximum of 1 free entrance to The Malta Chamber events per year. Non members will be charged a fee of 70Eur + VAT at entrance in the case of registrations that go over and above that quota. The Malta Chamber reserves the right to reject registrations of non members.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry (The Malta Chamber) is committed to protect the privacy of individuals who communicate with it, use its services, visit its website, and who make use of its online facilities. In this regard, any personal data submitted with this registration will be processed according to our Privacy Policy. During the event, photos will be taken which will be used for marketing purposes.