Email is a critical tool for businesses, but it also comes with risks. One of the most pressing threats today is Business Email Compromise (BEC)—a type of scam that can lead to serious financial and data losses.

What is a BEC Attack?

In a BEC attack, scammers impersonate high-ranking employees like CEOs, executives, or IT staff to trick employees into sharing sensitive information or transferring money. Alarmingly, research shows nearly 90% of these scams are crafted to look like legitimate requests from trusted people within the organization.

It’s easy to understand why these scams work. Employees often react quickly to what they think are urgent or authoritative emails without questioning their legitimacy.

The Growing Threat of BEC

BEC scams have surged this year, especially in the third quarter. Researchers analyzing 1.8 billion emails worldwide found over 208 million malicious emails, with more than half (58%) being BEC attempts. These scams have now become the biggest email-based threat to businesses.

Interestingly, many BEC scams target lower-level employees who may be less familiar with cyber threats or less likely to question requests from “higher-ups.”

While BEC is a significant concern, it’s not the only email scam to watch for. Scammers also use phishing and spam emails to steal login details or personal information, and the combined impact of these threats now outweighs traditional ransomware and malware attacks.

Protecting Your Business is Easier Than You Think

The good news? Securing your business from email scams doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

Here are simple steps to safeguard your business:

1. Train your team. Ensure employees are educated about email scams and know to approach unexpected requests with caution.
2. Think before you act. If an email asks for sensitive information or financial transactions—especially if it’s urgent—employees should stop and verify its legitimacy before taking any action.
3. Encourage double-checking. Create a culture where it’s okay to question requests, no matter who they seem to come from.

By fostering awareness and promoting a few cautious habits, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to email scams.

Need Help?

If you’d like expert advice on securing your business from email threats, feel free to reach out. Together, we can ensure your team stays safe and your data stays protected.

Next Steps

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