Last updated: November 2025
🔎In this article: learn how towing businesses can strengthen their cybersecurity posture, prevent scams, and protect sensitive data with practical tips.
Most towers know how to protect their yards. They lock their gates, use cameras to record who comes and goes, and allow only those with approved access inside. They store trucks securely, and train staff how to spot suspicious behavior. While the tangible side of the business is often buttoned down, many companies leave the digital gate wide open. Today, thieves are just as — or even more likely to break in through email or text messages as they are to cut a chain-link fence.
Cybersecurity might sound like something only big corporations or government agencies should worry about, but towing businesses are targets, too. Criminals know most operators are focused on the road and the yard, not on technology. That makes towing companies appealing targets. The risk is high — businesses have lost money, had dispatch operations shut down, and watched helplessly as sensitive customer information was exposed due to cyber-attacks and scams.
The heart of this threat? Data. Every towing company, regardless of size, handles valuable information every day. These businesses process credit card payments, store lien holder details, handle vendor invoices, and keep dispatch schedules on office computers or tablets in the field. To a criminal, this is a goldmine. With one stolen password, bad actors can reroute money, freeze operations, or demand payment before handing restoring control to rightful owners. And unlike a yard or office break-in, you may not even know this has happened until the damage is done.
5 Common Data Attacks Tow Companies Should Guard Against
1. Fake Invoices
One of the most common attacks tow companies face is the fake invoice scam. It works because it looks normal. A towing company receives an emailed bill from what appears to be a regular supplier. The bill looks normal, the logo matches, and the instructions are simple— send payment to a new account.
In one case, a mid-sized, Midwest company fell victim and wired $9,000 straight to a scammer. The only clue that something was wrong was an email address just slightly different from the real one.
2. Phishing
Phishing emails are another common trick. These are designed to trick staff into clicking what looks like a legitimate link. For example, a dispatcher may receive an urgent message from what appears to be the bank, saying the company account will be locked unless details are immediately “verified.” Or a driver might get an email seemingly from the dispatch software provider, asking them to log in through a new portal. The link leads to a fake website where passwords are stolen and used to access real accounts.
With phishing emails — as well as other types of scams —urgency is the hook. Scammers know people are more likely to make mistakes when they feel rushed.
3. Ransomware
This type of attack causes some of the most disruptive incidents in the towing and recovery industry. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that locks every file on a computer, leaving it impossible to use. Then, a message appears demanding cryptocurrency payment to unlock the system. Without backups, business operations grind to a halt.
One family-run shop learned this lesson the hard way. Bad actors took over their dispatch computer, locking them out for four days. The cost to recover was even higher than the ransom demand. Since then, this business backs up files weekly on an external drive, which is disconnected when not in use. Putting this precautionary step in place has given this business peace of mind that no single attack will ever shut them down again.
4. Password Breaches
Even something as basic as weak passwords can leave the digital door wide open. Using “Tow123” for every account might be convenient, but it also gives hackers easy access. Criminals trade stolen passwords online. Once they find one, they try it across multiple services. This can quickly compromise email accounts, bank logins, dispatch software, or all the above if the same password is reused.
5. Social Engineering
Attacks aren’t always digital. Social engineering — for example when scammers pretend to be vendors, tech support, or new employees — can trick people into sharing logins or sensitive data.
The tools and strategies may change, but the principle of attacks remains the same: criminals seek the path of least resistance.
6 Cybersecurity Best Practices Tow Companies Can Use to Defend Against Attacks
So what can tow companies do? Fortunately, solutions won’t require you to hire a full-time IT team. You can protect yourself by applying the same common-sense practices you already use to keep your yard safe.
6 protective cybersecurity best practices to put in place:
- Use long, unique passwords instead of short ones
- Turn on two-step sign-in for email, banking, and dispatch systems
- Back up files regularly to the cloud or an offline drive
- Allow automatic updates for your computers and phones
- Confirm payment instructions with a direct phone call
- Keep business and personal accounts separate
Train your staff on best practices. This is the final — and maybe the most important — piece of the safety puzzle. Everyone in the business, from drivers to dispatchers, needs to know the basics:
- Do not click suspicious links
- Do not share passwords
- Speak up when something looks odd
Schedule a short safety meeting once a month — just like a toolbox talk about chains and straps — to keep cybersecurity top of mind. Scammers rely on busy people moving too quickly to notice small details. Teach staff to slow down, double-check their work, and report concerns. This is one of your best defenses against an attack.
Even with good habits, scammers can break through. What matters most is how you respond. Just like you prepare for roadside breakdowns, prepare what you need to fight off cybersecurity or data attacks.
Disconnect any infected computers from the Internet right away. If you transferred any money, call your bank immediately. Notify staff and vendors about suspicious activity so they don’t fall victim to follow-up scams. And, when needed, bring in a professional to help you recover.
Checklist: Emergency Response
âś… Disconnect infected computers from the internet
âś… Call the bank immediately if you moved or transferred money
âś… Alert staff and vendors to prevent follow-up scams
âś… Document a backup dispatch plan in case computers go down
âś… Keep professional IT support contacts handy
Apply the same good instincts you have about keeping trucks secure in the yard to keeping sensitive digital information safe. Criminals are always looking for an easy target — with a few smart steps, you can make sure your towing business isn’t one.
Good Long-Term Cybersecurity Habits
- Train staff regularly on how to spot scams
- Document an incident response plan
- Review passwords and backups every few months
- Treat cybersecurity as part of everyday safety — not a one-time project
Dennis McGowan is a veteran of the towing and roadside industry with more than 20 years of experience in operations and technology. He is currently Principal Product Strategist at Autura, Inc., where he focuses on building tools that help towers work smarter, safer, and more profitably.
