Business Email Compromise

Business email compromise, also known as CEO impersonation fraud, is a type of fraud where the fraudster pretends to be a senior executive from your organisation. They will send an email to an employee to try to trick them into doing something, like making a payment to either an existing or new client or supplier.

Business Email compromise

  • The fake emails are well crafted, can be sent from compromised email accounts and may look like they have come from someone you know, generally a senior executive at your company.
  • The fraudster usually pressurises you into acting quickly and without thinking.
  • Typically, the fraudster instructs you to make an urgent high value payment to a supplier or creditor, and usually includes the payee details, including the IBAN.
  • Often the payee account is located overseas.
  • The fraudster usually advises in the email that they will not be available for the following number of hours or days, perhaps running to a meeting or catching a flight and that the payment must be sent immediately.
  • Have robust procedures within your firm about who can set up and authorise payments.
  • Be skeptical of urgent requests that do not follow typical company procedures and policies.
  • Always verify that the email is from the real sender. Call them before acting on the request.
  • Establish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising all payments. You may need to review existing internal procedures.
  • Consider how your business issues and accepts payment instructions. Email is not considered a secure means of communication unless encrypted.
  • Phone numbers quoted in the suspicious email should not be trusted; verify the contact internally before making any payment.
  • Notify the Bank immediately if you receive a suspicious email relating to payments, or the Police if you think you have been the victim of fraud.

Protect your business from Email Compromise

Lost or stolen card?

As soon as you believe your card has been lost or stolen, please contact us as soon as possible via our Freephone numbers listed below. We’ll cancel your card as soon as you tell us it’s missing and get a new card issued to your address (the one we have on file for you) in 5 to 7 working days.

Fraud, suspicious activity or unauthorised transactions?

To report online fraud, suspicious activity, unauthorised transactions on your account or ATM fraud, please contact us as soon as possible via our Freephone numbers listed below.

Shared your online login details?

If you have shared your banking details in response to a suspicious email, text or call, please notify us as soon as possible via the Freephone numbers listed below.

Report a suspicious email or text

To report suspicious Bank of Ireland UK related emails or texts (both personal and business customers), send the suspicious email or text to 365security@boi.com

Emergency Contact Numbers

You can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on:

Calling from UK

Freephone: 0800 121 7790 (personal customers)

Freephone: 0800 032 1288 (Business On Line and Global Market Customers)

Calling from ROI

Freephone: 1800 946 764 (personal and business)

Calling from Overseas

Not Freephone: 00353 567 757 007

Please note: If we need to contact you about a potential fraud on your account, we will do this via a secure channel including, but not limited to, SMS or email.