Working securely
with us.
Use our secure client portal or the secure method agreed for your engagement to share confidential information. For an unexpected request, check with us through a contact you already know.
Check a request before acting.
You may receive notifications about documents, signatures or invoices. An unexpected request deserves a separate check, especially if it asks you to act urgently.
Open your saved portal bookmark or contact us using a number from your engagement records. Do not use a new link or telephone number supplied in the message you are trying to verify.
Verify payment changes independently.
Before using new or changed payment instructions, call a number you already know belongs to the firm or the other party involved. Confirm the details separately from the message requesting the change.
A familiar sender name or an existing email conversation is not enough on its own. If something does not match, pause the payment and ask.
Keep sign-in details to yourself.
Use your own portal account and the available multifactor sign-in options. Do not share a password, recovery code or one-time sign-in code with another person.
If someone else needs access to your records, discuss the appropriate authorization and access arrangements with the firm rather than sharing your login.
Something does not look right?
Stop before opening an attachment, entering sign-in details or sending money. Contact the firm using your existing records. A quick check is welcome.
If money has already been sent following a suspicious instruction, contact your bank promptly and notify the firm through a known channel.
Why we don’t list our staff online
Tax firms are frequent targets of impersonation and phishing. To protect our clients and our team, we don’t publish staff names or direct contact details. When you engage us, we introduce you to your lead contact and the people working on your matters, and your team directory will be available in our new secure client portal. If anyone claims to be from Hickok Tax Advisory, confirm it by calling our main number, (408) 265-8400.