CISO's Guide: How To Prevent Business Email Compromise
Search Security, Friday, February 13th, 2026
Business email compromise feeds on professional email norms -- and exploits emotions such as fear or urgency. Learn what BEC is, how it works and how to prevent it.
Mike is just like any other eager new employee when he receives an urgent email from his boss. In the email, she explains that she's at dinner with an important client and forgot her corporate credit card. She needs to pay for the meal now, without delay. She instructs Mike to send her his company-issued credit card information and explains that she'll approve the expense the next day.
While a message like this might raise a red flag, the email certainly seems to be from his supervisor and, after all, Mike wants to show that he's a team player.