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SmartBug Security & Fraud Prevention Page

Your Security is Our Priority

At SmartBug, we take the security of our clients and partners seriously. We have been made aware of phishing attempts where unauthorized individuals impersonate our team members to send fraudulent invoices, agreements, and tax forms.

This page serves as the official guide for verifying any communication you receive from us.


How to Identify Official Communications

All legitimate business from SmartBug will follow these strict protocols. If a communication deviates from these, treat it as high-risk.

1. Official Email Domains

  • General Business: All employees will contact you from an address ending in @smartbugmedia.com.

2. Payment & Banking Instructions

  • No Sudden Changes: We will never send an email requesting an urgent change to our wire transfer or ACH instructions.
  • Verification Policy: Any change to our banking details will be communicated via a formal letter on company letterhead and must be verified by you through a live phone call with your primary SmartBug point of contact or a member of our finance team.

3. Document Integrity

  • Invoices: Legitimate invoices sent will contain a link to a secure payment portal. If you receive a PDF invoice with no link to a secure portal, it is likely a forgery.
  • Agreements: We use secure e-signature platforms for all service agreements.


Common Red Flags of Fraud

Be vigilant if you notice any of the following in an email claiming to be from us:

  • Look-alike Domains: Emails from domains like @smartbug-media.com, @smartbug.co, @smartbug.io, or @gmail.com.
  • Unusual Attachments: Unexpected ZIP files or PDF invoices sent directly from a personal email account.
  • Account Changes: Requests to send funds to a "new" or "updated" bank account or to a different country.


What to Do if You Suspect Fraud

If you receive a suspicious email, phone call, or document:

  1. Stop: Do not click any links, download attachments, or reply to the email.
  2. Verify: Please reach out to your SmartBug contact or legal@smartbugmedia.com.
  3. Report: Forward the suspicious email as an attachment to legal@smartbugmedia.com. Forwarding as an attachment preserves the "email headers," which helps our security team track the source.