What is Business Email Compromise?

In today’s hyper-connected world, we’ve become used to emails flying back and forth at the speed of business. But what if one of those emails, seemingly from your CEO or a trusted vendor, was actually a carefully crafted scam? Welcome to the world of Business Email Compromise (BEC)—a stealthy and growing cybercrime that’s fleecing organizations out of billions globally.

What is BEC?

Business Email Compromise is a type of cyberattack where criminals impersonate legitimate business contacts—often executives, partners, or vendors—to trick employees into transferring money or sensitive data.

Unlike traditional phishing, which casts a wide net, BEC is targeted and highly personalized. Attackers often spend weeks or even months researching a company, monitoring communications, and crafting emails that look convincing enough to fool even the most vigilant professionals.

Real-World Example

In one high-profile case, a U.S. company lost over $46 million in a single BEC attack after an employee wired money to an overseas bank account—believing the request came from a known vendor.

Common BEC Tactics

Attackers may:

• Spoof email addresses to appear like a senior executive or trusted vendor.

• Hijack legitimate email threads by gaining access to an inbox.

• Use urgency and authority ("Please process this payment today!") to rush employees into skipping verification.

• Target financial departments, HR, or anyone with access to money or data.

Why BEC Works

BEC thrives on social engineering, not malware. It bypasses many traditional security tools because the emails often don’t contain malicious links or attachments—they just look... normal.

Employees may trust a familiar name, skip a second check, or feel pressure to act quickly. And that’s exactly what attackers bank on.

Who’s at Risk?

• Small businesses with limited cybersecurity resources

• Large enterprises with complex supply chains

• Non-profits, universities, and government agencies

In short: everyone.

How to Protect Your Organization

1. Train your team.Regularly educate employees on how to spot suspicious requests, especially those involving money or sensitive info.

2. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA).Even if a hacker gets a password, MFA can stop them from logging in.

3. Set up email alerts for lookalike domains.

4. Create clear protocols for financial transactions.Always verify wire transfer requests through a secondary method, like a phone call.

5. Monitor inbox rules and login activity.Many BEC attacks use forwarding rules or unusual logins as part of the breach.

Final Thoughts

BEC may not be flashy like ransomware or as widely reported as data breaches, but it’s quietly devastating companies around the globe. And because these scams rely more on psychology than tech, stopping them starts with awareness and vigilance.

Don’t wait to become a headline. Train your people, tighten your processes, and stay alert—because sometimes, the biggest threat is already in your inbox.