detecting-business-email-compromise

name	detecting-business-email-compromise
description	Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated fraud scheme where attackers impersonate executives, vendors, or trusted partners to trick employees into transferring funds, sharing sensitive data,. Use when working with detecting business email compromise.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	phishing-defense
tags	["phishing","email-security","social-engineering","dmarc","awareness","bec","fraud"]
version	1.0
author	oyi77
license	Apache-2.0
atlas_techniques	["AML.T0052","AML.T0088"]
nist_ai_rmf	["GOVERN-6.2","MAP-5.2"]
d3fend_techniques	["Restore Object","Restore Configuration","Application Configuration Hardening","Application Hardening","Disable Remote Access"]
nist_csf	["PR.AT-01","DE.CM-09","RS.CO-02","DE.AE-02"]

Detecting Business Email Compromise

Overview

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated fraud scheme where attackers impersonate executives, vendors, or trusted partners to trick employees into transferring funds, sharing sensitive data, or changing payment details. Unlike traditional phishing, BEC often contains no malicious links or attachments, relying purely on social engineering. This skill covers detection techniques using email gateway rules, behavioral analytics, and financial process controls.

When to Use

Trigger phrases:

• "detecting business email compromise"

• "Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated fraud scheme where attackers "

• When investigating security incidents that require detecting business email compromise

• When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain

• When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type

• When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques

Prerequisites

• Email security gateway with BEC detection capabilities
• Understanding of organizational financial processes and approval chains
• Access to email logs and SIEM platform
• Knowledge of social engineering tactics

Key Concepts

This section covers key concepts for detecting business email compromise.

• Ensure all prerequisites are met before proceeding
• Follow the documented workflow steps in sequence
• Record results and any anomalies encountered during this phase

BEC Attack Types (FBI IC3 Classification)

1. CEO Fraud: Attacker impersonates CEO, requests urgent wire transfer
2. Account Compromise: Employee email compromised, used to request payments from vendors
3. False Invoice Scheme: Fake invoices from "vendor" with changed bank details
4. Attorney Impersonation: Impersonates legal counsel for urgent confidential transfers
5. Data Theft: Requests W-2, tax forms, or PII from HR

Detection Indicators

• Urgency and secrecy language ("confidential", "do not discuss with others")
• New or changed payment instructions
• Executive communication outside normal patterns
• Display name matches executive but email domain differs
• Reply-to address differs from From address