CEO Fraud Skyrockets 270%

The FBI has issued an alert, warning about a dramatic increase in CEO-fraud email scams: To the tune of a 270% increase.

This alarming global epidemic, otherwise known as “whaling,” involves attackers posing as a top company exec in order to trick employees into wiring funds to a scammer bank account—or releasing sensitive information, like W-2 tax forms. The FBI estimates that these scams have cost organizations more than $2.3 billion in losses over the past three years.

“The schemers go to great lengths to spoof company e-mail or use social engineering to assume the identity of the CEO, a company attorney or trusted vendor,” the alert warns. “They research employees who manage money and use language specific to the company they are targeting, then they request a wire fraud transfer using dollar amounts that lend legitimacy.”

Victims range from large corporations to tech companies to small businesses to non-profit organizations. Many times, the fraud targets businesses that work with foreign suppliers or regularly perform wire transfer payments. From October 2013 through February 2016, law enforcement received reports from 17,642 victims. Law enforcement globally has received complaints from victims in every US state and in at least 79 countries.

Rohyt Belani, CEO and co-founder of PhishMe, said that even cybersecurity companies aren’t immune. PhishMe’s VP of finance received this exact type of CEO-fraud email scam last year, where an email appeared to be from Belani, requesting a wire transfer. In that case, the effort failed.

Obviously, if employees are unsure of the legitimacy of a transfer request, they should contact IT and confirm verbally or outside of email with that executive or vendor for verification before proceeding.

Jonathan Sander, vice president at Lieberman Software, pointed out that leadership has a role to play too.

“There is a question of how much power employees have to cause damage, and there is also a question of how executives expect to be able to give directions,” he said. “In several of the cases where these fake CEO emails prompted employees to do the wrong thing, the first thing that occurred to me was that the employee should never have been able to simply email out so much data. The employee shouldn’t have been able to access that much data without some sort of oversight kicking in. The fact that a single employee, for any reason, could grab so much data and simply send it to anyone, regardless of who they think that person is, is a scary prospect when you stop to think about it.”

Infosecurity:

« Russia Blamed For Swedish Air Traffic Hack
Chinese Whistleblower Sentenced To Death For Leaking State Secrets »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

DoD Cyber Crime Center (DC3)

DoD Cyber Crime Center (DC3)

DC3 is a US Department of Defense (DoD) center of excellence for Digital and Multimedia forensics.

Azeti Networks

Azeti Networks

Azeti Networks is a global provider of IoT technology to a variety of verticals including telecomms, oil/gas, manufacturing, finance and healthcare.

GeoLang

GeoLang

GeoLang’s Ascema platform protects sensitive information at the content level by identifying, classifying and tracking data across the corporate infrastructure.

e-Crime Bureau

e-Crime Bureau

e-Crime Bureau is a specialized company offering cyber/computer forensics, cyber security consulting services, forensic audit and investigations services and training to clients across Africa.

BooleBox

BooleBox

Boolebox is the innovative suite of enterprise data protection applications that preserve the integrity and confidentiality of data from any unauthorized access.

Miradore

Miradore

Miradore is a software company specializing in effective, cloud-based device management. Our goal is to help IT Service Providers and IT departments secure and control devices.

Edvance

Edvance

Edvance operates a range of cybersecurity businesses including value added cybersecurity solutions distribution, security technology innovation and development, and SaS solution offerings.

Infosec Global

Infosec Global

Infosec Global provides technology innovation, thought leadership and expertise in cryptographic life-cycle management.

SecureWorx

SecureWorx

SecureWorx are a secure multi-cloud MSP, a provider of advanced IT security services and an independent cyber security advisory.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

Gray Analytics

Gray Analytics

Gray Analytics is a Cybersecurity Risk Management company providing best-practice services across a broad spectrum of cyber scenarios for both government and commercial customers.

Stone Forest IT (SFIT)

Stone Forest IT (SFIT)

Stone Forest IT specialises in providing advisory, implementation and managed services for IT infrastructure, IT security solutions, business applications (ERP and CRM) and business analytical tools.

CyNam

CyNam

CyNam is a platform for enabling the growth and development of people and organisations within Cheltenham’s flourishing cyber technology ecosystem.

European Center for CyberSecurity in Aviation (ECCSA)

European Center for CyberSecurity in Aviation (ECCSA)

ECCSA is a cooperative partnership within the aviation community to better understand emerging cybersecurity risks in aviation and provide collective support in dealing with cybersecurity incidents.

ITQ Latam

ITQ Latam

ITQ Latam are specialists in cybersecurity, in a convergent ecosystem of technological solutions in infrastructure, cloud and security networks.

BJSS

BJSS

BJSS is an award-winning technology and engineering consultancy for business.