Every day, small businesses receive emails asking them to click a link, download an attachment, or approve a payment. Some of these are traditional phishing attacks, others are even more targeted: Business Email Compromise (BEC).

While both attacks rely on deception, they work differently and require different warning signs. Understanding the difference can help you spot scams earlier and avoid costly mistakes.

Key takeaways:

Phishing usually tries to steal passwords or install malware through fake links or attachments.
Business Email Compromise (BEC) relies on impersonation and social engineering instead of malicious files.
BEC attacks often target invoices, wire transfers, payroll, or sensitive company information.
Employee awareness, email security, and payment verification procedures help prevent both threats.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyberattack that uses fraudulent emails, messages, or websites to trick people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware.

For example, a phishing email might ask you to:

Sign in to your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace account through a fake login page.
Open an attachment that secretly installs malware.
Click a link to "verify" your account.
Confirm payment details or update billing information.

These attacks are often sent to thousands of people at once. Even if only a small percentage of recipients fall for the scam, attackers can still steal passwords, financial information, or gain access to business accounts.

What is business email compromise (BEC)?

Business email compromise (BEC) is a targeted email scam that relies on impersonation rather than malicious links or attachments. Instead of sending a fake login page, criminals pretend to be someone your business already trusts: your CEO, accountant, supplier, business partner, or even one of your employees.

For example, you might receive an email asking you to:

Pay an urgent invoice.
Transfer money to a "new" bank account.
Update payroll information.
Share confidential business documents.
Purchase gift cards for a client or company event.

Because these emails often contain no links, attachments, or other obvious warning signs, they're much harder to recognize than traditional phishing emails.

Business email compromise vs. phishing: Key differences

In short, every Business Email Compromise attack is designed to deceive someone through email, but not every phishing attack is Business Email Compromise.

Phishing	Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Usually sent to many people at once	Highly targeted
Often includes fake links or malicious attachments	Often contains no links or attachments
Tries to steal passwords or install malware	Tries to convince someone to send money or sensitive information
Often impersonates well-known companies	Usually impersonates someone the business already knows
Can often be identified by security filters	Can appear as a legitimate business conversation

The biggest difference lies in how attackers gain your trust.

Traditional phishing usually relies on technical tricks, such as fake websites or malware, while Business Email Compromise relies on psychology. Attackers study the business, learn who communicates with whom, and send emails that look like part of an ongoing conversation.

How to protect your business from phishing and business email compromise

Phishing and Business Email Compromise rely on different tactics, but many of the same security practices can help stop both before they cause damage.

Protect your business email

Your email account is often the gateway to your business. Secure it by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), using strong, unique passwords, and verifying unusual payment requests or bank account changes through a trusted phone number or another communication channel.

Use scam detection tools

Many phishing attacks can be blocked before an employee ever clicks a link. Email security, scam detection, and malicious website protection help identify suspicious messages, fraudulent websites, and dangerous attachments before they become a problem.

Choose layered security for your business

A solution like Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security combines phishing protection, scam detection, malware defense, and account security in one easy-to-manage solution. It protects your devices, business email, and employees from the most common cyber threats, while making it easier to spot suspicious activity before it leads to financial loss.

Try Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security free for 30 days. No credit card required.

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FAQs

What is the difference between business email compromise and phishing?

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a type of email scam that uses impersonation to trick someone into sending money or sharing sensitive information. Traditional phishing often relies on fake websites, malicious links, or attachments to steal passwords or install malware. While both attacks use deception, BEC is usually more targeted and may not include any obvious technical warning signs.

Is business email compromise a type of phishing?

Yes. Business Email Compromise (BEC) is generally considered a specialized form of phishing because it relies on social engineering to deceive victims. However, unlike traditional phishing campaigns sent to thousands of recipients, BEC attacks are typically highly targeted and focus on impersonating trusted individuals, such as executives, suppliers, or clients.

Why do hackers target small businesses with business email compromise attacks?

Small businesses often have fewer cybersecurity resources, less formal payment approval processes, and fewer employees verifying financial requests. Attackers know this and may target businesses where a single convincing email could lead to an unauthorized payment or the disclosure of sensitive information.

How can small businesses prevent business email compromise and phishing attacks?

Small businesses can reduce their risk by training employees to recognize suspicious emails, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), verifying payment requests by phone, using strong email security, and requiring approval for significant financial transactions. Combining employee awareness with security tools provides the best protection against both phishing and BEC attacks.

Can business email compromise happen without links or attachments?

Yes. In fact, many Business Email Compromise attacks contain no malicious links or attachments at all. Instead, attackers rely on convincing emails that appear to come from someone the recipient knows and trusts, making these scams more difficult to detect than traditional phishing emails.

Business email compromise vs. phishing: What's the difference for small businesses?