Guides
- 8 Most Dangers Twitter Scams and How to Avoid Them
- Pretexting Attacks: Common Types and How to Deal with Them
- How Do Zelle Scams Work and Things to Look Out For
- What Is Business Email Compromise, How to Defend Against It?
- What is a Wellness Check?
- How To Get a Temporary Restraining Order?
- What Is Smishing Attack & How to Avoid It?
- Spam Emails: Types and Ways to Block Them
- Email Masking & Masked Email Addresses
- Spot a Fake QR Code & Avoid Getting Scammed
- Common NFT Scams to Look Out For & Ways to Avoid the Fake Ones
- What to Do If You Witness a Crime?
- What Is Skip Tracing and How Does It Work?
- Common Venmo Scams to Look Out For and How to Avoid Them
- Can You Get Child Custody If You Have a Criminal Record?
- Common Amazon Scams and Ways on How to Avoid Them
- How to Find Liens on a Property?
- Multiple Bankruptcies: How Often You Can File One?
- How to Adopt a Child in the US?
- I Lost My Birth Certificate. What Should I Do?
- Warning Signs of Job Scams and How to Protect Yourself
- What Is a Ban the Box Law?
- What is Expungement?
- How to Transfer Property After Death Without Will
- What Is a Police Blotter?
- How to Appeal a Parking Ticket
- What Is a Clean Driving Record?
- What is Title Washing?
- What is Extortion?
- How To Run a Motorcycle Title Search
- What Is a Digital Footprint?
- What is Anti Money Laundering (AML)?
- Guide on How to Get a Death Certificate
- What is the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)?
- What is Multi Factor Authentication?
- What is a Citizen's Arrest?
- How to Know that You’re in an Obsessive Relationship
- Guide to Online Survey Scams
- 13 Different Types of Police Officers
- Full Guide on Work-from-Home Scams
- Is Private Browsing Really Private?
- Different Types of Felony Classes & Charges
- What is Juice Jacking?
- What are Romance Scams?
- Traffic Offenses and Violations
- What is Doxing and How to Prevent it?
- What are Spam Text Messages
- The U.S. Death Penalty: History and Modern Usage
- A Guide to Different Types of Bankruptcies
- Common eBay Scams to be Aware of
- What Happens When You are Booked in Jail?
- What Information Can You Get From A License Plate
- Different Types of Assets
- 8 Tips to Help You Find Family Members
- Car History Guide, Benefits, Importance
- Am I Dating a Stalker?
- How to Find out if Your Partner is Cheating
- What Is A Packet Sniffing Attack
- Intellectual Property Law and Rights
- Cyberstalking And Its Dangers
- A Guide to Phishing Scams
- What is Organized Crime?
- I’ve Lost My Driver’s License: What Should I Do?
- Misdemeanor Charges: Types, Classes, and Penalties
- A Complete Guide On Catfishing
- Vanity Phone Numbers: A Complete Guide
- What Happens When You Get Arrested
- Guide to Find Information About a Person Online
- How To Find And Claim Unclaimed Money
- What Happens if You Violate Probation
- Guide on How to Remove a Mugshot from the Internet
- How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
- How to Deal with an Outstanding Warrant
- Different Types of Car Insurance
- What Is Cyptojacking?
- What Is Email Security?
- What Is the Deep Web and What Can Be Found There?
- What Happens When You Declare Bankruptcy
- How Divorce Settlements are Calculated
- What are Common Methods of Social Engineering
- What is the Difference Between a General Lien and a Specific Lien?
- How to Detect Odometer Rollback
- Different Types of Probation
- Finding forgotten life insurance policies
- What is Bearer Bond and Why the US Banned it
- Everything you need to know about small claims court
- Moral Turpitude: Definition, Examples, and Much More!
- Misdemeanor vs Felony
- How To Read VIN Number
- How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Cell Phone
- How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay On Your Criminal Record?
- The Paypal Phishing Scam You Should Care to Avoid
- License Plates Types: USA Guide
- Effects of Cyberbullying: Complete Guide for Parents
- What is the DPPA?
- Petty Theft: Definition and Consequences
- What is a Life Sentence?
- How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant?
- Marriage License vs Certificate: Everything You Need to Know
- The Ten Most Popular Celebrity Mugshots
- How to Find Out if Someone is Married?
- How to Stop Phone Spoofing?
- How To Avoid Probate
- Dealing with abandoned vehicles in your neighborhood
- How to Find Someone's Cell Phone Number by Their Name
- Who Are the Worst Drivers in America?
- How To Find Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives
- What is a Digital License Plate?
- How to Find out if Someone Died?
- Murder vs Manslaughter: The Differences and Definitions
- How to Hire a Private Investigator?
- What Is a Number Neighbor?
- How to Find Out if Someone was Arrested
- How to Find Someone's Birthday?
- What is a Car Title
- How to Obtain a Police Report and Court Records?
- Filing a false police report
- Prison Valley: Look inside Prison Town
- How to Get Custody of a Child Without Going to Court?
- How to Find Someone’s Social Media Profiles?
- What to Do if Your Phone Is Tapped?
- What Is a Deed in Real Estate?
- Where Was The First US Federal Penitentiary Established?
- How to Find Someone's Location Using Their Cell Phone Number?
- What Is a Restricted Call?
- Who is the Most Dangerous Prisoner in the World?
- Poshmark Scams: How to Prevent and Report Them
- How to Find a Missing Person?
- How to Send Money to a Federal Inmate?
- DUI vs DWI: What're The Differences
- How Long After Buying a Car Do You Need to Register it?
- How to Find out Where Someone Lives?
- What Happens If You Get Caught Driving a Car Without Interlock
- Situational Crime Prevention: Theory, Techniques and Examples
- How Can I Find Out Who Called Me for Free?
- Gun Free Zone Statistics and Facts
- Online Threats and Digital Security: Trends, Types and Most Common Examples
- Cold Cases: Best Practices For Police Officers and Investigators
- Court Order: Definition, Types and Examples
- What Does a Fingerprint Background Report Show?
- How to Check Your Criminal Record?
- What is Tort Law?
- How to Calculate Child Support
- Property Rights: Definition, and Characteristics
- 12 Common Reasons for Public Records Request
- What is Antitrust Law?
- Virginia Gun Confiscation Law
- How Do You Find Out Who Own a Property?
- Neighborhood Watch Program
- How to Perform a Mugshot Search?
- Crime Mapping
- Safest Colleges in Florida
- Veterans Guide to Cars and Driving
- U.S. Correctional System: Structure, Incarceration and Facts
- License Plate Laws in the US
- How to Locate Inmates and Access Jail Records?
- Email Hacking: Laws, Penalties and Protection
- Romeo and Juliet Laws
- Holiday Safety for Home and Family
- Differences between Criminal and Arrest Records
- Public Records and Property History: What is Public Information and What Isn’t
- How to Look up Immigration Inmates?
- Famous Prisons in the USA
- How to Find Out Who Owns a Vehicle Using Reverse Lookup Tools
- How to Search for Your Family Tree?
- The Federal Judicial Center
- Mass Incarceration in the USA
- What is COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)?
- Data Safety After The Capital One Breach
- Scholarships Guide for Students
- Complete Guide to Student Safety
- What Is a Vehicle Identification Number?
- Determining Divorce: 5 Types of Divorce You Must Know
- Sex Offenders: Complete Guide to be Protected
- New Privacy Laws and Public Records
- Motor Vehicle Registration in the US
- Digital Token Age: Security Laws and Regulations
- Facial Recognition Technology and Legal Restrictions
- What Shows up in a Background Report
- Car Repossession Laws: Dealing with Car Dealers and Auto Fraud
- How to Protect Yourself from Phone Scams
- Human Rights in the Prison
- What are Business Competition Laws?
- What is a Hate Crime?
- Starting a Business and Business Licenses
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Guidance
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Tax Reform Impact and Changes To Know
- Self-Driving Cars: Laws and Regulations
- White-Collar Crime: Statistics and Facts
- Have You Been Arrested? Cases You'll Need a Lawyer
- How to Get a Driver's License in the US
- Car Theft in the US: Prevention and Facts
- Identity Theft Passport Program
- Changing your Name after Marriage: What You Need to Know
- Finding the Perfect Roommate: Dos and Donts
- What to Do in a Car Accident?
- Property Crimes: How to Burglar Proof Your Home
- Consumer Laws in the US: What Do They Mean for a Customer and a Business Owner
- Child Trafficking: The Scope, Understanding, and Prevention
- Business Assets: A Guide to the Financial Health of your Business
- Guide To The College Application: How, When and Where to Apply
- Which States Have “Stand Your Ground” Laws?
- Adolescent Depression Symptoms and Causes
- Things to Know About the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory System
- Inheritance in the US: With & Without a Will
- Online Dating Safety Guide for Men and Women
- Sexual Abuse in the U.S.: Laws and Statistics
- Supporting Children After Divorce: Child Custody Options
- Halloween Horrors Come to Life: Holidays Crimes in the U.S.
- Charity Scams in the U.S.: Be Aware and Protected
- Webcam Hacking & Spying in the US
- Sex Offender Search
- Freedom of Religion in the U.S.
- Senior Financial Scams: How are the Elderly Targeted and How to Avoid It
- Catcalling: Is it illegal? How to Deal With It
- A Complete Guide To Insurance Fraud: Common Types and Prevention
- Sextortion: What to Do if You Became a Victim of Blackmailing
- Concealed Carry: How to Protect Yourself on Campus
- Debt Collection Laws | Fair Debt Collection Act: What You Need To Know
- How Much Is My House Worth? Ultimate Guide to Home Buying and Selling
- What are the Traits of a Sociopath?
- Do You Know Who Your Neighbors Are?
- Learn How to Find Your Birth Parents
- The Importance of Public Records in Law
- Do You Know What's the Difference Between Jail and Prison?
- Homeowner’s Insurance, Is it a Public Record?
- The Disturbing Facts of Gun Violence in America
- How to Use Public Records in Marketing
- Best & Worst Cities for Driving
- LGBT Bullying
- What You Need to Know When Buying or Selling a Used Car?
- School Safety and Security Standards
- Making Your DMV Experience Fast And Easy
- How to Prepare For an Active Shooter Incident
- How to Report a Crime?
- How to Protect Yourself Against Cyber Attacks
- 50 Things to Know When Filing for Divorce
- What to Do When You Are Stopped By the Police
- Tips for Back-to-School Safety and Security
- Guide to Filing for Bankruptcy
- How to Appeal the Court's Decision
- A User's Guide to Warrants
- How to Fight a Traffic Ticket?
- Keeping Your Neighborhood Safe For Your Family
- A Parent's Guide to Keeping Your Child Drug-Free
What Is Business Email Compromise, How to Defend Against It?
Scams involving email compromise are becoming a common danger for companies everywhere. Cybercriminals have developed sophisticated methods to take advantage of email system flaws, which have led to financial loss, data breaches, and reputational harm. Organizations must comprehend the nature of email compromise and implement strong defense measures to protect their operations. It is important to fully examine how corporate emails may be compromised, the many sorts of assaults, and advice on how to avoid falling victim to such frauds.
What Is the Process of Business Email Compromise?
A Business email compromise (BEC) attack is a technique used by cybercriminals to trick workers, clients, or vendors into activities that are advantageous to the attackers. Typically, the procedure includes the following steps:
- Reconnaissance: Attackers thoroughly investigate the target company, its personnel, partners, and suppliers. They acquire data from open sources, social networking sites, and hacked accounts in order to fully comprehend the connections and communication patterns within the company.
- Initial Compromise: Using techniques like phishing, malware, or credential theft, cybercriminals obtain illegal access to a targeted email account. Once in charge, they may keep an eye on the account, acquire important data, and identify possible targets.
- Impersonation: Attackers choose a good target and assume the identity of a reliable employee to attack. They alter or establish new email addresses to seem like authentic accounts. They maximize the chance that their fraudulent actions may go unreported by imitating well-known acquaintances.
- Social Engineering: Cybercriminals use social engineering strategies to trick their victims into specific activities. This can entail making a last-minute wire transfer request, updating account details, or divulging private data. The perpetrators use psychological tricks, a sense of urgency, and their position of power to persuade the victim to comply with their requests.
- Exploitation: Once the target succumbs to the ruse, the attackers make use of the stolen email account to steal money, get sensitive information, or alter corporate procedures for their own gain.
How Many Types of Business Email Compromises Are There?
Business email compromise refers to a variety of attack methods, each with its unique modus operandi. The following are some BEC examples:
- CEO Fraud: Attackers pose as high-ranking officials, frequently the CEO, and demand the release of confidential information or urgent financial transactions. This kind of fraud uses power and urgency to persuade staff to forego standard security policy.
- Invoice Manipulation: Cybercriminals intercept valid invoices sent back and forth between firms and change the payment information, including the account number or routing number. Unaware workers continue to make payments, which causes money to be transferred to the attacker's account.
- Vendor Email Compromise: Attackers target the lines of communication between businesses and their suppliers. They can send phony requests for payment modifications or instill a sense of urgency for fast transfers by hacking into a vendor's email account.
- Lawyer Impersonation: In this scam, fraudsters pretend to be attorneys or other legal agents involved in current transactions. They exert pressure on their victims to provide private details about legal concerns or shift money to bogus accounts.
- Employee Impersonation: Online fraudsters set fake email addresses that resemble those of regular workers or superiors. They take advantage of the trust that exists between coworkers to trick victims into doing things that help the attackers, including starting unlawful financial transfers.
How to Defend Against Business Email Compromise Attacks?
A complete strategy that incorporates technology solutions, personnel knowledge, and strong security procedures is needed to defend against business email compromise. The following are some strong countermeasures:
- Employee Training: Remind staff members on a regular basis to follow best practices for email security, such as avoiding phishing scams, suspicious attachments, and double-checking email inquiries for legitimacy. Teach your employees to be wary of sudden or strange requests and to independently confirm any changes to payment or account information through recognized channels.
- Strong Authentication and Access Controls: For email accounts and other crucial systems, use multi-factor authentication (MFA). By asking users to give other verification elements in addition to their password, such as a special code sent to their mobile device, this offers an extra layer of protection. Only authorized workers should have access to sensitive systems and data, and access should be frequently reviewed and revoked for former employees.
- Email Filtering and Security Solutions: Use sophisticated email filtering tools to identify and stop phishing scams, harmful emails, and suspicious attachments. These systems examine email content, sender reputation, and other signs of fraud using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. To further avoid email spoofing, think about installing Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC), which works by confirming the legitimacy of incoming emails.
- Robust Password Policies: Enforce stringent password regulations that use a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, digits, and special characters throughout the business. Encourage staff members not to use passwords that are obvious or widely used. Remind staff members to change their passwords frequently and think about putting in place a password management system to guarantee that each account is protected by a different password.
- Vendor and Partner Due Diligence: Establish reliable procedures for examining the credibility of partners and suppliers. Do extensive background investigations and email searches on people, making sure to confirm their contact details, reputation, and security procedures. To validate any changes in payment or account information, speak with known contacts immediately via trusted means.
- Encrypted Communication: Use encrypted communication methods to send important information wherever feasible. Even if the transmission is intercepted, encryption improves email security and makes sure that the contents are unintelligible to unauthorized parties. To share private information, promote the usage of secure file-sharing services or encrypted email services.
- Incident Response Plan: Create an incident response strategy that explains what should be done in the event that a company's email system is compromised. This strategy should include how: events should be reported, compromised accounts should be isolated, forensic investigations should be carried out, and pertinent parties should be notified. Test and update the plan regularly.
- Continuous Monitoring and Threat Intelligence: Implement ongoing network and email traffic monitoring to find any unusual activity or illegal access attempts. Utilize threat intelligence sources, security forums, and trade journals to stay current on the most recent email compromise strategies and trends. Organizations may proactively detect and mitigate new hazards with the use of this knowledge.
Any Sized Business Needs to Beware of Email Compromise Scams
Scams involving business email compromise provide a serious risk to enterprises of all sizes and industries. Businesses should proactively protect themselves from these frauds by understanding email compromise and the many attack types. To successfully guard against email compromise, a mix of technical solutions, personnel training, and strong security standards is needed. Organizations may dramatically lower the danger of falling for these scams by putting strong authentication, email filtering tools, and strict password restrictions in place. Additionally, promoting a culture of cybersecurity awareness and giving staff frequent training will improve the company's resistance against email compromise assaults.