RIP-OFF ALERT: Small business owners with unprotected computer networks are at risk of having their bank accounts drained by hackers.

Cyber-thieves are increasingly bypassing both individuals and large corporations in favor of small business targets. They know that most individuals have limited assets, while most corporations have robust computer security in place.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that these types of hacking crimes are up 33% in a year.

The Houston Chronicle reports that one small business owner was able to thwart an in-progress online theft of $1.2 million. The criminals had launched a fully coordinated attack to get the money by sending 39 wires in less than an hour.

The small businessman was able to have many of the wires canceled because he acted quickly and got in touch with his bank. Yet he's still responsible for $150,000 in losses, even though he caught the theft immediately!

Had he been any slower to respond, he could have been insolvent and ruined financially.

Wiring money has become a foolproof conduit for crooks to make off with funds. And it's through no fault of Western Union or any other money-wiring service; they're just the mediums of transmission.

This particular business owner in The Houston Chronicle story has since wised up. He's put a standing order with his bank that wires cannot be sent electronically without the express approval of a designated employee at his company. And he's also put in a security system on his computers.

Remember, small business needs to take special care because of the Uniform Commercial Code. Under the UCC, small business may be held partly or totally responsible if their lines of credit or accounts are compromised.