The $10K Invoice That Wasn’t: What Business Email Compromise Looks Like in Real Life

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

It started like any other Tuesday.

The office manager at a small logistics firm opened their inbox to find an invoice from one of their long-time vendors. The email looked familiar. The logo was correct. The signature matched previous emails. The invoice was for $10,000—right in line with past orders.

They paid it. No questions asked.

A week later, their vendor called: “Hey, just following up—did you send that payment?”
Confused, the manager replied, “We already did.”
Except… they hadn’t. Not to the real vendor.

They’d sent $10,000 straight into the hands of a cybercriminal.

What Just Happened? Understanding Business Email Compromise (BEC)

This wasn’t a simple phishing scam. It was Business Email Compromise (BEC)—a growing cyber threat where attackers impersonate real people to trick businesses into sending money or sensitive data.

Here’s how it typically works:

A scammer spoofs an email address or takes over a real one.
They pose as someone trustworthy—a vendor, CEO, accountant.
They send a convincing email with a fraudulent request—usually to change bank details, process a payment, or share login credentials.

It doesn’t rely on viruses or technical hacks. It relies on trust—and timing.

And it’s costing small businesses billions each year.

Why Small Businesses Are Prime Targets

Large corporations have firewalls, multi-step approvals, and full-time security teams. Small businesses often have none of that.

Here’s why BEC attacks are so common—and so successful—among small organizations:

No verification process for invoice or payment changes.
Generic email tools without threat detection or sender validation.
Limited staff training on spotting sophisticated scams.
Assumptions like “we’re too small to be a target.” That mindset is exactly what attackers exploit.

In fact, most BEC attacks are now specifically aimed at smaller teams, knowing the barriers are lower and the urgency is higher.

The Red Flags Most People Miss

In hindsight, the clues were there:

The sender’s domain had an extra letter (“@suppllierco.com” instead of “@supplierco.com”).
The payment details were “updated due to new banking regulations.”
The email urged fast action before “late fees apply.”

But to a busy employee juggling multiple tasks? Those signs were easy to overlook.

Cybercriminals don’t send out sloppy scams anymore. They watch. They mimic. They strike when your guard is down.

How Lockwell Stops This Exact Attack

This is where Lockwell shines—especially for small businesses that don’t have the time, resources, or expertise to monitor every email manually.

Here’s how our platform, powered by Elle (your AI cyber defense agent), protects your inbox 24/7:

1. Real-Time Email Scanning
Every incoming email is scanned for signs of impersonation, suspicious language, malicious links, and forged attachments—before it ever reaches your team.

2. AI-Powered Alerts
Elle flags messages that look off—even if the sender looks familiar. If something seems risky, it’s quarantined instantly, and your team gets notified with clear guidance.

3. Audit Trails for Peace of Mind
If an incident ever does happen, Lockwell logs every step: who received what, when, and what actions were taken. It’s built-in forensics, ready for any audit, insurance claim, or incident review.

What You Can Do Today

If this story feels uncomfortably familiar, you’re not alone. But you can protect your business without hiring a full security team.

Start with these simple steps:

Verify payment changes with a phone call—especially if the request is sudden or urgent.
Train your team to spot red flags (subtle typos, unexpected urgency, new banking details).
Use a platform like Lockwell to automatically scan, detect, and prevent these attacks.

It’s not about fear—it’s about being prepared. And giving your team the tools to avoid becoming the next cautionary tale.