How to Detect and Prevent Business Email Scams: A Practical Guide for Organisations
- Neil Hare-Brown
- May 27
- 3 min read
Business email scams — also known as business email compromise (BEC) — continue to be one of the most financially damaging cyber threats to organisations.
These scams rely on impersonation, social engineering, and urgency to trick employees into transferring funds, sharing sensitive data, or clicking malicious links.
At STORM Guidance, we help businesses reduce their exposure to these threats by combining technical defences with practical staff training and incident response planning. Whether you’ve already encountered a suspicious message or want to get ahead of future risks, this guide will help you take action.
Common Types of Business Email Scams
Understanding the different forms of email scams is the first step in spotting them:
CEO or Executive Impersonation
Attackers pose as a senior leader asking for urgent payments, gift card purchases, or confidential information.
Vendor or Supplier Fraud
Criminals impersonate known suppliers and send fake invoices or bank detail changes.
Account Compromise
An employee’s email account is hijacked and used to send scams internally or to partners.
Phishing Links and Malicious Attachments
Emails that prompt users to click fake login pages or download malware.
These scams are often well-written, look legitimate, and come with a sense of urgency — making them hard to spot without training and layered controls.
How to Detect Business Email Scams
Look out for these red flags in any email communication:
Unexpected Requests — especially involving money, bank details, or sensitive documents
Urgent Language — phrases like “as soon as possible,” “confidential,” or “don’t tell anyone”
Unusual Tone or Formatting — poor grammar, odd phrasing, or a tone that doesn’t match the sender
Spoofed Email Addresses — similar-looking domains or subtle misspellings (e.g. @st0rmguidance.com)
Links or Attachments — asking you to “verify your account” or “view secure documents”
If something feels off, don’t act on it — verify it using another method (e.g. phone call, internal message).
How to Prevent Business Email Scams
1. Strengthen Email Security Settings and access control
Enable SPF, DKIM, and DMARC on your domain
Use advanced email filtering and phishing protection tools
Block automatic forwarding rules and executable attachments where possible
Strictly control cross-mailbox access
2. Train Employees to Spot and Report Suspicious Emails
Provide regular awareness training
Run phishing simulations
Reinforce a “trust but verify” culture
3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Protect email and admin accounts with MFA
Reduce the risk from stolen credentials
4. Implement Financial Verification Procedures
Always verify changes to payment details or large transactions with a secondary approval process
Consider callback procedures for new suppliers or payment requests
5. Improve Account Management
Ensure that all accounts are only those needed for business operations
Subject privilege account to strict and accountable use
Perform regular account housekeeping
6. Monitor for Account Compromise
Use logging and alerting to detect unusual login activity
Investigate forwarding rules, especially in finance or HR inboxes
What to Do If You Suspect a Scam
If you’ve received or acted on a suspicious email:
Stop any further action immediately
Disconnect affected devices (if a link was clicked or attachment opened)
Change passwords and notify your IT/security team
Preserve the email and headers for investigation
Notify your bank if a transfer was made in error — fast action may allow funds to be recalled
How STORM Guidance Can Help
✔ Rapid response to suspected business email compromise
✔ Digital forensics and account compromise investigations
✔ Security policy reviews and preventive controls
✔ Team training and phishing awareness
✔ Ongoing resilience and incident readiness planning
Email Scams Are Inevitable — But Impact Doesn’t Have to Be
With the right controls and awareness, your organisation can significantly reduce its exposure to email fraud.
By combining simple detection techniques with proactive defences, you can respond confidently — whether you’re preventing the next scam or dealing with one right now.
STORM Guidance is here to help protect your people, your data, and your business.
