Train Your Team to Recognize and Stop BEC Scams

Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams are a growing threat, targeting employees by impersonating trusted figures like a CEO or a vendor. These scams often lead to unauthorized transfers of money or sensitive information. In 2022 alone, BEC scams caused over $2.7 billion in losses, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

You can prevent devastating financial and reputational losses just by training your employees to recognize the signs of a BEC scam.

Spotlight on BEC Scams

How They Work: Scammers use phishing or hacked email accounts to impersonate someone your team trusts. They send emails that look authentic, often requesting urgent actions like wire transfers or sharing sensitive data.

Regional Insights according to Bitdefender Labs’ insights:

United States: Scammers frequently target payroll systems, stealing employee wages.
Asia-Pacific (APAC): Small businesses in this region often rely on manual payment verification, making them vulnerable. Cybercriminals also exploit cultural respect for authority.
Australia: Industries with large transactions, like real estate, are common targets. Criminals pose as suppliers and send fake invoices.

Real-Life Example

A construction company in Victoria, Australia, fell victim to a BEC scam, losing over $900,000. Hackers compromised the email account of a supplier the company trusted.

The scammers intercepted a legitimate invoice and sent a fake one from the supplier's email address. It looked authentic, even including the supplier director's signature. However, the bank details had been changed. The email accompanying the fake invoice said: "Please make payment to the updated bank details to avoid delays, as payments to the previous account will now be rejected."

Source: news.com.au

How to Train Employees to Stop BEC Scams

Preventing just one BEC scam can save your business thousands of dollars in financial losses, legal fees, and reputational damage.

Here's how to get your team prepared:

1. Explain What a BEC Scam Is

Start with the basics. Share real-life examples, like the one above, to show how these scams happen and why they're dangerous.

You can find more information here: How to Prevent or Recover from A Business Email Compromise (BEC) Attack.

2. Teach Employees to Spot the Signs

Help your team recognize red flags:

Urgency: Scammers often pressure employees to act immediately.
Email oddities: Look for slight changes in email addresses, like replacing "o" with "0."
Breaking protocol: Requests to skip established approval processes should raise alarms.

3. Encourage Verification

Train employees to confirm unusual or high-stakes requests via phone call or face-to-face communication. A simple verification can prevent scams.

4. Use Realistic Scenarios for Training

Simulate phishing attempts to see how employees respond. After the exercise, discuss what went well and what could be improved.

5. Introduce Scam Copilot

Bitdefender's Scam Copilot is like having an expert on call. Employees can chat with it whenever they're unsure about an email. Scam Copilot provides instant feedback, analyzing messages for signs of fraud.

6. Protect Email with Phishing Prevention

Many scams can be stopped before they start. Bitdefender's Email Phishing Protection blocks harmful emails, ensuring your employees never see them.

7. Update Policies Regularly

Make sure everyone knows your latest security procedures, including:

Verifying payment requests through a second method.
Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
Reporting suspicious emails immediately.

8. Foster a Culture of Security

Encourage employees to speak up if something feels off. Include cybersecurity training in regular meetings, and reward those who catch potential threats.

9. Leverage Advanced Security Tools

Scam Copilot and Email Phishing Protection are part of Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security which offers all the tools needed to keep your business safe.

Training your employees is one of the best ways to protect your business from BEC scams. Combine their vigilance with advanced protection tools like Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security which offers all the tools needed to keep your business safe.

Learn more about securing your business at Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security.

FAQs

What is a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam?

A Business Email Compromise scam happens when cybercriminals impersonate someone trustworthy—like a CEO, vendor, or client—to trick employees into transferring money or sharing sensitive information. They often use phishing or hacked email accounts to make their requests look legitimate.

How can I help my employees spot a BEC scam?

Educating your team on common warning signs, such as:

Requests for urgent action, like transferring funds immediately.
Slight changes in email addresses that make them look genuine.
Emails asking to bypass standard approval procedures.

Encourage employees to verify unusual requests by calling or meeting the person who supposedly sent the email.

What tools can help protect my business from BEC scams?

Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security offers powerful tools to stop BEC scams, including: Scam Copilot (employees can chat with it to analyze suspicious emails in real-time and Email Phishing Protection (blocks malicious emails before they reach your team’s inboxes).
Investing in these tools and combining them with employee training can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to BEC scams.