FBI PSA – BEC Scams Continue to Target Organizations Large and Small

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has updated its Public Service Announcement (PSA) on the continuing threat of Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams. This latest PSA includes updated statistical data for the time frame of October 2013 to December 2021, which includes the estimate that during this period total domestic and international losses to BEC have amounted to over $43 billion. According to the PSA, “Between July 2019 and December 2021, there was a 65 [percent] increase in identified global exposed losses, meaning the dollar loss that includes both actual and attempted loss in United States dollars.” The increase is partly contributed to many business switching to remote work due to the pandemic. The PSA lists several methods individuals can take to defend against this activity. To report an incident or file a complaint, visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Read the full PSA here.