You can protect your company from business email compromise (BEC) by using multi-factor authentication, verifying payments, and training employees. Monitor email rules, secure your domain, and limit public information to reduce risks. Establish an incident response plan to act quickly if a threat arises.
TechJury reports that almost 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily. A significant number of these emails involve BEC scams.
These attacks can cause major financial losses and damage trust. Your business may need to invest in stronger security systems, employee education, and clear policies to prevent costly email fraud.
Business email compromise (BEC) scams take many forms, targeting employees and executives. The most common ones include:
In CEO fraud, attackers pretend to be a company leader and ask for urgent payments. Vendor fraud happens when criminals fake a trusted partner’s email to redirect funds. All these scams pose serious threats to businesses and require proactive action to prevent financial loss and to protect sensitive information.
Phishing often casts a wide net with generic messages sent to many users. Attackers use fake links or malicious attachments to:
Business email compromise (BEC) is more targeted, focusing on specific employees or companies. BEC scammers study company hierarchies and communication habits to improve success.
Phishing can harm anyone, but BEC usually targets financial transactions and sensitive data. Both are serious, but BEC can cause larger financial losses.
Protecting your company from BEC requires proactive action and often working with specialists like EMPIST. Our team can educate you on common threats and help implement strong security measures. We specialize in cybersecurity for businesses, guiding you to prevent email scams and secure sensitive information effectively.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a second verification step when logging in, such as a code from an app or a text message. Even if a scammer steals a password through phishing, they cannot access the account without this second step.
MFA stops attackers from:
Using MFA protects your company from the most common BEC tactics. It makes it much harder for attackers to manipulate employees or steal money.
Attackers often send fake emails that appear to come from executives or trusted vendors requesting urgent or high-value payments. Always verify these requests by calling the requester using a known, trusted number.
Never rely only on email instructions. Establish clear approval rules for vendors and internal transfers. Careful verification helps prevent financial losses and is a key part of effective email fraud protection.
Employees who aren’t trained on BEC scams can unknowingly:
Regular training teaches staff how to spot warning signs and verify requests. Use role-based exercises and simulated phishing attacks to show real examples. This reduces mistakes and helps employees prevent financial loss while protecting sensitive company data.
Regularly check for unauthorized email rules or automatic forwarding. Attackers may redirect messages without the recipient knowing.
Monitoring rules prevent information leakage and interception of sensitive data. Frequent audits of inbox settings enhance overall email fraud protection.
Register variations of your domain to avoid spoofing. Use Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) for verification.
Implement proper security certificates to protect outgoing messages. Securing your domain makes it harder for attackers to impersonate your company and target employees.
Limit public information about your company to reduce the risk of BEC scams. Reduce exposure of:
Avoid unnecessary posting on websites or social media. Limiting what is publicly visible makes it harder for attackers to target employees and enhances corporate email safety.
Create clear steps for reporting suspected BEC attempts. Assign responsibilities to specific team members for fast action. Include contact procedures for banks and authorities.
A ready plan reduces response time and limits potential losses. Employees should know who to alert immediately when they notice suspicious emails or potential email security threats.
Yes, small businesses are often targets of BEC scams. Attackers assume smaller companies have weaker security. Employees may lack training, and processes may not require verification for payments.
Criminals exploit these gaps to request fake transfers or sensitive information. Small businesses should implement multi-factor authentication, verify all requests, and educate staff to reduce exposure to these attacks.
Vendors can be used by attackers to trick businesses into sending money or sensitive data. Scammers may spoof a vendor’s email to request payments or change bank details.
If employees don’t verify requests, fraudulent transfers occur. Companies should confirm changes directly with vendors and establish clear verification steps to reduce risks from these attacks.
Companies can report BEC attacks to law enforcement and regulatory agencies. They may work with banks to attempt to recover stolen funds.
Legal teams can investigate fraud and gather evidence for potential civil or criminal cases. Reporting incidents also helps protect clients and maintain compliance with data protection laws.
Business email compromise (BEC) poses serious financial and data risks for all companies. Scammers use fake emails, spoofed vendors, and stolen credentials to trick employees and executives. Protecting your business requires proactive strategies, employee training, and secure systems.
At EMPIST, we help businesses safeguard against business email compromise. With 25 years of experience, our team provides Managed IT, Cybersecurity, Cloud Services, and more. We educate employees, implement secure systems, and create plans to prevent attacks.
Partnering with us ensures that your company reduces risks, protects sensitive information, and remains prepared against threats. Get in touch today to see how we can help your business stay secure.