It looks like a normal payment request — your logo, your email address, even your tone of voice. But it isn’t you. It’s a cyber criminal impersonating your business, and your client just paid a fake $12,000 invoice.

This kind of scam doesn’t just cost money. It damages your reputation, strains client relationships, and creates doubt about the safety of your systems. Most business owners assume they’re too small to be targeted — but the truth is, small and mid-sized businesses are now the number one target for email impersonation attacks because they’re seen as easier to exploit.

The good news: there’s a simple, low-cost safeguard that protects your business identity online. It’s called DMARC — and it can stop scammers from sending fraudulent emails that appear to come from your domain.

Protect your reputation before it’s stolen

Your brand name is one of your most valuable assets. Every time a client receives an email that looks like it came from you, they make a split-second decision to trust it. If that trust is broken once, it’s hard to win back. When criminals spoof your domain, it’s not just their scam — it’s your name attached to it. Even if you’re not legally liable, you may spend days cleaning up confusion, refunding victims, or explaining what went wrong.

DMARC stops attackers from hijacking your domain to send fake messages. It ensures that only authorised emails — the ones you and your systems send — ever reach your clients’ inboxes.

Reduce financial risk with proactive defence

According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, Australian businesses reported more than $80 million in losses from email compromise scams last year, with an average loss of $64,000 per incident. These scams often start with a simple vulnerability: an unprotected domain.

DMARC is a cost-effective layer of protection that prevents these attacks before they start. By verifying that every email sent in your name is genuine, it stops invoice and payment scams at the source — protecting both your cash flow and your clients’ trust in your professionalism. When you compare the potential loss of even one incident to the minimal setup cost, DMARC isn’t an expense — it’s insurance for your brand and your bottom line.

Strengthen client confidence and compliance

More businesses and government agencies are tightening email security expectations. Partners are beginning to require suppliers to have DMARC in place before doing business. Having DMARC configured sends a clear signal: you take cyber security seriously. It shows you’re protecting your clients’ data and your own communications. That can make all the difference in competitive tenders or ongoing client relationships where trust and professionalism matter.

For businesses using Microsoft 365, implementing DMARC also helps your legitimate emails reach inboxes more reliably, improving deliverability and avoiding junk folder issues.

Simple setup, lasting protection

Setting up DMARC doesn’t require a major technical change. Your IT provider or Microsoft 365 administrator can add a DMARC record to your domain, align existing SPF and DKIM records to verify legitimate senders, and provide ongoing reports that show who’s trying to send in your name. Once configured, DMARC quietly protects your email reputation around the clock without disrupting your systems or your team’s workflow.

Don’t wait for an impersonation scam to test your reputation. Talk to our team about setting up DMARC and Microsoft 365 email protection so you can protect your brand, your clients, and your cash flow — all in one simple step. At The IT Agency, we help keep your business connected, protected, productive and supported with managed IT solutions that deliver real business outcomes. Talk to the team about how they can secure your systems, simplify your IT, and strengthen your business resilience today.

In summary

• Protect your reputation before it’s stolen – your brand name is one of your most valuable assets. DMARC ensures only legitimate emails are sent under your domain.
• Reduce financial risk with proactive defence – DMARC helps prevent invoice scams that cost Australian businesses millions every year, protecting your revenue and client relationships.
• Strengthen client confidence and compliance – showing you have DMARC in place reassures clients and partners that your business takes security seriously.
• Simple setup, lasting protection – implementation is fast and affordable, keeping your systems protected 24/7.

References

Australian Cyber Security Centre (2024). 2023–24 cyber threat trends for businesses and organisations. Canberra: Australian Signals Directorate. Available at:
https://www.cyber.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-11/2023-24-cyber-threat-trends-for-businesses-and-organisations.pdf (Accessed: 29 October 2025).