“One fake invoice can cost a company thousands.”

In the world of cybersecurity, some of the most damaging attacks aren’t the ones that make headlines about massive data breaches or ransomware. Instead, they’re the quiet, targeted scams that slip into your inbox — and straight into your business’s bank account.

One of the most devastating examples is Business Email Compromise (BEC). It’s not about breaking firewalls or cracking passwords. It’s about tricking people — and it works far too often.

🔍 What Is Business Email Compromise?

Business Email Compromise happens when a cybercriminal impersonates someone you trust — like a supplier, an executive, or a long-term client — to convince you or an employee to send money, gift cards, or sensitive data.

It’s social engineering at its most convincing.
The scammer studies your company’s public information, learns how you communicate, and mimics it perfectly. You might receive what appears to be a legitimate invoice, or a message from your boss asking for an urgent wire transfer.

By the time you realize what happened, the money is often long gone.

💰 Why It’s So Effective

BEC works because it preys on trust and urgency — two things that keep small businesses running efficiently.

• It looks real: Attackers use real names, logos, and even details from genuine emails they’ve intercepted.

• It feels urgent: The message might say, “Can you handle this wire transfer before lunch?” or “We’re finalizing this deal — please send the payment today.”

• It comes from a familiar name: Scammers often spoof (or slightly alter) legitimate email addresses — like “ceo@forgcyber.com” instead of “ceo@forgecyber.com.”

To a busy employee trying to do their job, it looks like business as usual.

📉 The Cost of a Single Click

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Business Email Compromise causes more financial loss than any other type of cybercrime — totaling over $2.9 billion in 2023 alone.

And it’s not just large corporations being targeted. Small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly at risk because they often don’t have dedicated cybersecurity staff or verification processes in place.

A single BEC attack can wipe out months of revenue — or worse, damage client trust permanently.

🧠 How to Protect Your Business

The good news? You don’t need a massive IT department to reduce your risk. A few smart habits and safeguards can make a big difference.

✅ Verify payment requests. Always confirm through a separate channel — call the person, use a known phone number, or start a new email thread (don’t hit reply).

✅ Set up dual approvals. Require two people to sign off on large payments or wire transfers.

✅ Train your team regularly. Hold short cybersecurity refreshers — especially for staff handling invoices, payments, or sensitive information.

✅ Watch for subtle red flags. Changes in tone, urgent deadlines, or requests that break normal process should always raise suspicion.

✅ Use email security tools. Simple tools like multi-factor authentication (MFA), domain protection (DMARC), and spam filtering can block many impersonation attempts before they reach inboxes.

At Forge, we believe cybersecurity isn’t just about technology — it’s about awareness. Business Email Compromise succeeds because it manipulates human behavior, not just software.

That’s why our approach focuses on empowering small businesses with practical tools and knowledge to recognize the warning signs before it’s too late. From staff training to email security assessments, we help business owners across Huntington and beyond protect what they’ve worked hard to build.

🚀 Take the First Step

Think your inbox is safe?
Let Forge help you find out — before scammers do.

Reach out to schedule a quick cyber risk review and learn how we can help safeguard your business from the most convincing scams out there.