The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and the United States Secret Service (USSS) Ottawa Field Office have successfully prevented a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam, safeguarding nearly $750,000 (U.S.) for an American company. The identity of the company has been withheld to protect privacy.
This preventative action traces back to a Canadian entity reporting a suspected BEC scam to the CAFC in June. The CAFC then informed various partners, including the USSS, about the fraudulent activities and the associated bank account. Through the USSS’s dissemination of this information, a bank investigator identified an ongoing transaction of approximately $750,000 (U.S.) directed to the suspicious account.
The bank investigator acted swiftly, placing a hold on the funds transfer, contacting the U.S. company involved, and initiating the reversal of the funds. An employee from the impacted company acknowledged the critical interception, indicating that it not only protected financial resources but also preserved jobs.
BEC scams represent a significant threat online, often involving fraudulent emails that imitate legitimate sources to deceive businesses or individuals into making financial transactions or divulging sensitive information. These scams can take many forms, including fraudulent invoices, withdrawal requests, payroll data changes, malware-laden attachments, or deceptive requests for gift card purchases.
To combat such threats, authorities encourage reporting any suspected scam, fraud, or cybercrime to local police and the CAFC, which can be reached through its Online Reporting System or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. Reporting these incidents can provide critical data to help protect others from similar scams.
