That Invoice Isn’t From Accounting…

How AI Is Supercharging Business Email Scams (and How to Stay Ahead)”

You know that gut feeling when an email doesn’t seem quite right?

The logo looks familiar. The tone feels convincing. The invoice seems routine.

But something’s off.

In 2023 alone, U.S. businesses lost over $2.7 billion to Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams — one of the most financially damaging cybercrimes today. Unlike typical phishing emails riddled with typos or suspicious links, BEC scams are personal. They mimic your tone, your vendors, your internal processes. And thanks to AI tools, cybercriminals are getting frighteningly good at it.

What Exactly Is a BEC Attack?

A BEC attack happens when a cybercriminal impersonates a trusted person — like a vendor, executive, or business partner — to trick an employee into sending money or revealing confidential information.

They might send an email from an address that looks nearly identical to your vendor’s domain or even hack into an existing account to request a “routine” payment.
With AI, they can now clone communication styles and formatting so accurately that even trained eyes miss the signs.

A Real-World Example

A major automotive parts manufacturer recently fell victim to a BEC attack that cost them $37 million.

Here’s what happened: attackers studied the company’s payment workflows for weeks, then sent a perfectly timed, realistic-looking invoice from a spoofed vendor domain. One employee approved the payment — no alarms triggered.

Everything looked normal… until the money disappeared.

Even large, security-conscious organizations can fall prey when human trust is exploited.

Why These Attacks Work

It’s not the firewalls failing — it’s the humans.
Studies show that over 90% of BEC incidents exploit human error, not technical vulnerabilities.
Attackers count on our instincts to trust, move quickly, and help others — especially when an email seems urgent or important.

That’s what makes BEC attacks so dangerous: they weaponize familiarity.

Five Ways to Protect Your Business

1. Train for Awareness
Regular cybersecurity training is key. Teach employees how to spot unusual payment requests or changes in vendor details — and always verify through a phone call, not email.

2. Use Email Authentication Tools
Implement DMARC, SPF, and DKIM protocols to block spoofed domains before they ever reach your inbox.

3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA makes it exponentially harder for attackers to access email accounts, even if credentials are stolen.

4. Build Better Financial Controls
Require dual approvals for large payments or vendor changes. No one person should both approve and execute a wire transfer.

5. Monitor and Respond Early
Watch for anomalies like new forwarding rules, logins from unusual locations, or altered vendor info. If something feels off, pause — and investigate.

How LingoTek Helps

At LingoTek, we don’t sell cybersecurity — we simplify it.
We help businesses see where their risks are hiding and create clear, actionable steps to reduce them.

Our team works alongside your leadership, IT, and accounting teams to:

• Assess your communication and technology stack

• Identify weak spots in your email or vendor management processes

• Recommend trusted cybersecurity partners to strengthen protection

• Align your teams around smarter, safer workflows
  
  

  Because security shouldn’t be confusing. It should be clear.

Your inbox shouldn’t be a gateway for risk — it should be a hub of confidence and control.

Let’s make sure it stays that way.

👉 Schedule a quick “Clarity Check” to learn where your business stands. Email info@lingotekinc.com to get started.