Business Email Compromise (BEC)
What is BEC?
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated scam targeting both businesses and individuals performing a transfer of funds. The scam is frequently carried out when a subject compromises legitimate business e-mail accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques resulting in an unauthorized transfer of funds.
Stay Protected
To remain on guard against BEC, follow the tips below:
Use secondary channels or two-factor authentication to verify requests for changes in account information with the intended recipient.
Verify the email address used to send emails, especially when using a mobile or handheld device, by ensuring the sender's address appears to match who it is coming from.
Ensure the settings in yours or your employees' computers are enabled to allow full email extensions to be viewed.
Monitor your personal financial accounts on a regular basis for irregularities, such as missing deposits.
Have You Been Scammed?
If you paid a scammer with a credit or debit card, you may be able to stop the transaction. Contact your credit card company or bank right away. Tell them what happened and ask for a “chargeback” to reverse the charges.
If you paid a scammer using a money transfer app, contact the company behind the app. If the app is linked to a credit card or debit card, contact your credit card company or bank first.