Invoice / Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams

Invoice / Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams: What You Need to Know

When you run a business, trust is everything—trust in your team, your clients, and the partners you pay. Unfortunately, scammers have found a way to exploit that trust through **Invoice and Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams.** These attacks are subtle, sophisticated, and increasingly common.

What Is an Invoice / BEC Scam?

In this type of fraud, attackers **spoof or gain access to legitimate business email accounts** to send fraudulent invoices or payment instructions. The goal is simple: trick you into sending money to the scammer’s account instead of the real one.

Targets are often:

**Finance teams** processing payments on tight schedules

**Small business owners** who may not have strict internal controls

**Vendors or partners** who frequently deal with invoices

How the Scam Works

**Compromise or Spoof** – Scammers may hack a real email account, or create a near-identical one (e.g., `accounts@yourbusines.com` instead of `accounts@yourbusiness.com`).

2. **Send a “Routine” Invoice** – The message looks authentic and often references real projects or vendors.

3. **Apply Pressure** – Urgency is the scammer’s best friend. They’ll claim a payment is overdue, threaten penalties, or insist the funds must be transferred immediately.

4. **Redirect the Payment** – The new “payment instructions” send money straight to the scammer’s account.

Red Flags to Watch For

**Sudden changes in payment details** (new bank account, new wire instructions, or international accounts)

**Urgent language**: “Pay today or lose the contract!”

**Subtle email address variations** (extra letters, swapped domains like `.co` vs. `.com`)

**Unusual timing**: requests outside of business hours or late at night

Why These Scams Work

BEC scams are effective because they **exploit familiarity**. If you’ve seen an invoice format before, or the email appears to come from a trusted colleague, it’s natural to comply quickly—especially when under pressure.

How to Protect Your Business

**Verify changes in payment instructions by phone** (using a known phone number, not one in the suspicious email)

**Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all business email accounts

**Educate employees**—especially finance staff—about red flags

**Set up internal approval workflows** for large or unusual payments

**Use email authentication tools** like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to make spoofing harder

The Bottom Line

Invoice and BEC scams are designed to **slip under the radar** by blending in with your normal business communications. Awareness and verification are your best defenses. If a payment request feels even slightly unusual—pause, verify, and protect your business from becoming the next victim.