FRAUD FRIDAY: Business Email Compromise

As the number of frauds and scams continues to grow in the Nicola Valley, Merritt & Nicola Valley Crime Stoppers, and Q101 are teaming up to present Fraud Fridays, a feature designed to inform those in the community of the dangers of fraud, what they should look for, and what to do if they are a victim of fraud.

Marlene Jones, chair of the local chapter of Crime Stoppers, says that her organization is making fraud and fraud prevention a top priority in 2026, with hopes to keep the community safe from those looking to scam people out of their money and personal information.

Today’s Fraud Friday: Business Email Compromise

These scams look like urgent emails from a boss, another staff member or a vendor, but they’re really attempts to redirect payments or steal sensitive information.

How They Work

• Scammers spoof or hack business email accounts.

• They request wire transfers or changes to payment details.

• Messages often stress urgency or confidentiality.

• Fraudsters monitor email threads to time their requests.

Steps to Protect Yourself

• Confirm unusual requests in person or by phone using known numbers.

• Use multi-factor authentication on business accounts.

• Train staff to spot suspicious email behaviour.

• Verify any change in payment instructions.

What to Do If Targeted

• Contact your bank immediately to try to stop the transfer.

• Report the incident to police if you have lost money and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

• Secure your email accounts with updated passwords.

Bottom Line

” Always verify financial requests, especially when they appear urgent.”

The Merritt & Nicola Valley Crime Stoppers are also looking for volunteers this year to help out with local events. If you can spare just a few hours a month or would like to become more active within the organization by reaching out to Crime Stoppers via their website at www.nicolavalleycrimestoppers.com.