Business Email Compromise (BEC) is soaring and global companies are been affected, typically attackers request funds to be transferred to an offshore location, typically to Hong Kong. Digitpol, a global cyber crime investigation agency is providing assistance to affected firms via its Hong Kong offices by provide rapid assistance with freezing funds wired to fraudsters accounts and liaison with local authorities to trace and recover the stolen funds.
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a scam targeting companies who conduct regular wire transfers and have suppliers abroad; typically firms that have business with Asia or with offshore locations are at target. BEC attackers rely heavily on social engineering tactics to trick unsuspecting employees and executives.
Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud is the intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual through email. Almost as soon as email became widely used, it began to be used as a means to defraud people. Email fraud can take the form of a “con game” or scam. Investigating email fraud reaches to all aspect of cyber crime investigation from recovery of funds transferred to a fraudster’s bank account to a forensic examination to determine how fraudsters hacked into email accounts, such as digital forensics. Digitpol’s Investigation Team are certified computer forensic investigators and fraud examiners and can assist to all cases related to Email Scams and Fraud.
Digitpol CEO Mr Martin Coyne told that bank accounts in offshore jurisdictions such as Hong Kong are been used to facilitate the crime and that the fraudsters are proven to be not local residents, BEC fraud is a growing problem globally. The process to freeze funds is complex and consists of search warrants and issuing no consent letter, which is only issued by the Police, often-legal action is needed to recover the frozen funds. In every case, the Hong Kong Police need evidence that the crime took place, often with complex email hacking cases, most firms don’t know how to collect evidence that can be accepted, Digitpol assists with that by providing an independent report and conducting digital forensics on the hacked email servers and compromised computers and digital devices. The first step for victims is to report the crime via the Hong Kong E-Crime System.
Business email fraud happens in most cases when cyber criminals find ways to hack into the email servers or accounts of small and medium companies, often targeting companies or investors conducting business with Asian countries. Cyber criminals gain access to email accounts and search through email accounts looking for sensitive information such as outstanding, unpaid invoices or data relating to financial transactions and business between supplier, vendor and clients. When cyber criminals identify a sale or a due invoice, the fraudsters then send various fictitious emails from the hacked email account or an email address replicated to the original purporting to be in charge of the sale or due invoice to be paid, the fraudster is then asking for transfers of funds into a nominated bank account, usually giving an excuse that there is a problem at the bank and an alternative account needs to be used. It is common that the nominated account is in the same name as the company name or with a very slight change such as an extra letter. It is common the bank account to be in the same city as the victim or client.
If the money has been wired to a bank in Hong Kong, which seems to be the most common destination, Contact Digitpol’s Hong Kong Branch.
Digitpol’s offices in Hong Kong are experts in the investigation of email fraud and cyber attacks. Digitpols office in Hong Kong can assist with the direct liaison on the ground with the local authorities.
If your company has been targeted by Business Email Compromise and funds have been transferred to a bank account, Digitpol can help you, but only if you act fast and if you have the proof.
If a Business Email Compromise happens to you, you need to respond quickly. BEC fraud can lead to major disruption and financial disasters.
If you encounter or believe that you have been the victim of BEC fraud (i.e. phishing, fraudulent text messages etc.), please send an email to [email protected] Be sure to attach any supporting documentation such as copies of suspicious emails, text messages and questionable links/URLs.
Contact Digitpol’s hotlines or respond to us online: CONTACT
Phone: Europe: +31558448040 | Hong Kong: +85239733884
For more information, visit: https://digitpol.com/business-email-compromise/
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