Business Email Compromise Investigation
Sent a Wire to the Wrong Account?
A business email compromise (BEC) investigation is a lawful, structured inquiry into wire-fraud email scams — such as CEO fraud, vendor impersonation, and fraudulent payment redirection — that identifies how the fraud was carried out, traces where the money and messages went, and preserves the evidence for recovery efforts and legal action. Redbeard Intelligence and Investigations is a Florida-licensed private investigation firm, serving businesses nationwide and internationally.
Speed matters. When a fraudulent payment is caught early, banks can sometimes freeze or recall funds, so the first hours after a suspicious wire often shape what is recoverable.
Who a BEC Investigation Helps
Business email compromise targets organizations of every size, and it reaches anyone with authority to move money or approve invoices. We most often assist:
- Business owners and executives whose company has sent a wire to a fraudulent account or whose identity was spoofed to authorize a payment.
- Finance, accounting, and accounts-payable teams that received altered banking instructions or a fake invoice and need to understand what happened.
- Attorneys and corporate counsel who require documented, well-sourced evidence for recovery, insurance claims, or litigation.
- Real estate, title, and escrow professionals hit by closing-fund diversion, where large transfers move quickly.
Situations That Call for a BEC Investigation
Companies contact us when a payment or an email does not add up and money is already at risk — the following are the most common triggers.
- CEO Fraud
An email appears to come from an executive urgently requesting a wire or gift-card purchase.
- Vendor Email Fraud
A trusted supplier’s invoice arrives with new banking details that turn out to be fraudulent.
- Payment Redirection
Legitimate instructions are intercepted and altered so funds land in a criminal account.
- Mailbox Intrusion
Signs point to an employee’s email account being accessed, monitored, or used to send messages.
- Payroll Diversion
An employee’s direct-deposit details are quietly changed without their knowledge.
- Look-Alike Domains
Messages arrive from an address that mimics your company or a partner by a character or two.
What We Investigate and Detect
A BEC scheme leaves trails across email systems, banking records, and the wider internet. Our investigation examines:
- Email headers and metadata — analyzing full message headers to establish the true origin, routing, and any spoofing or forwarding.
- Account access — reviewing available login and mailbox-rule activity for signs of unauthorized access or hidden auto-forwarding.
- Spoofed and look-alike domains — identifying fraudulent domains, their registration details, and the parties behind them.
- The money trail — documenting wire transfers, mule accounts, payment apps, and cryptocurrency movement where funds were converted.
- Attribution — correlating open-source intelligence to connect infrastructure, aliases, and accounts to a responsible source.
- Timeline reconstruction — showing how the scheme was set up, how the request was delivered, and how the payment was diverted.
What to Provide
The more you preserve, the more efficient the investigation. Helpful material includes:
- The suspicious emails as original files with full headers, not screenshots, where possible.
- Invoices, payment instructions, and any changed banking details.
- Wire confirmations, transaction IDs, account numbers, and the receiving bank information.
- The names and email addresses of everyone involved in the request and approval.
- A short timeline of dates and times, and any reports already filed with your bank, insurer, or law enforcement.
If your team has already noticed the fraud, preserve the mailboxes and avoid deleting messages or altering rules before we speak. Prompt reporting to your bank and to the FBI’s IC3 can run in parallel with our work.
How the Process Works
Every engagement follows a disciplined sequence:
- Consultation. We discuss what happened, the amount at risk, and your objectives — fund recovery, evidence for an insurer, or attribution.
- Evidence preservation. We capture emails, headers, and records early, before logs expire or material is altered.
- Analysis. We examine headers, domains, and access activity, separating confirmed fact from assumption.
- Financial tracing. We follow the funds through banks, payment platforms, and cryptocurrency where applicable.
- Reporting. We deliver a clear, documented account of how the fraud occurred and what the evidence shows.
What You Receive
The deliverable is built to be useful and to withstand scrutiny:
- A documented findings report in plain language, describing methodology, sources, and conclusions.
- Preserved digital evidence — emails, headers, and records captured, timestamped, and handled to support chain-of-custody expectations.
- A financial trail summary identifying accounts, transfers, and touchpoints relevant to recovery.
- Supporting materials such as timelines, exhibits, and identifiers for your bank, insurer, counsel, or law enforcement.
- Testimony and referral support where appropriate, coordinated with your attorney.
We report what the evidence shows. We do not promise fund recovery or a specific identification, because responsible investigation follows the facts wherever they lead.
Confidentiality, Legal, and Ethical Compliance
Redbeard works within the law at every step, serving businesses nationwide and internationally. We use lawful methods only — no hacking, no unauthorized access to accounts or devices, and no prohibited pretexting. Business matters are handled with strict confidentiality, and evidence is gathered so that it remains admissible and credible. This discipline protects you, because evidence obtained improperly can be worthless — or damaging — in an insurance claim or legal proceeding.
Why Redbeard Intelligence and Investigations
A single BEC scheme can span spoofed domains, a compromised mailbox, laundered wire transfers, and a cryptocurrency cash-out — several specialties at once. Redbeard brings cyber investigation, digital forensics, cryptocurrency tracing, and OSINT together under one licensed firm, so your case is not fragmented across vendors who each see only part of the picture. Our approach is methodical, discreet, and grounded in evidence, and we coordinate with your bank, insurer, and counsel throughout.
Cost Factors
BEC investigations are priced by the work involved, not by a fixed menu. The main factors are:
- The complexity of the scheme and the number of accounts, domains, and transactions involved.
- How much usable evidence exists at the start, and whether mailboxes and logs were preserved.
- The depth of financial tracing required, including any cryptocurrency movement.
- Urgency and the need for expedited evidence preservation in the critical early window.
- Whether formal reporting, exhibits, or testimony support are required.
We explain scope and expected effort before work begins, so you can make an informed decision.
Related Services
A BEC matter often connects to several focused services. Cyber Investigations frame the broader online inquiry, Digital Forensics preserve and examine mailboxes and devices, Cryptocurrency Investigations trace funds converted to digital assets, and OSINT Investigations attribute the domains, aliases, and infrastructure behind the scheme. Each handles its area in depth and feeds back into the wider case.
Nationwide and International Coverage
Redbeard Intelligence and Investigations serves businesses nationwide and internationally. Much BEC investigation work is conducted remotely, so we can assist companies regardless of location and coordinate locally when a matter requires it.
Speak With a BEC Investigator
If your company has sent a fraudulent wire or spotted a suspicious payment request, a confidential conversation is the right first step, and acting quickly can make a difference. Call Redbeard Intelligence and Investigations at (888) 564-8300 or email contact@redbeardpi.com to discuss your situation with a licensed investigator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is business email compromise?
Business email compromise is a wire-fraud scam in which criminals use spoofed or hacked email to impersonate an executive, vendor, or partner and trick a company into sending money or changing payment details. A BEC investigation traces how it happened and preserves the evidence.
Can you recover money lost to a BEC scam?
Recovery is sometimes possible, especially when the fraud is caught early and the bank can attempt a recall or freeze. We trace and document the funds to support recovery, but no outcome can be promised.
How fast should we act after a fraudulent wire?
As fast as possible. Contact your bank immediately to request a recall, report to the FBI IC3, and preserve the emails, because the first 24 to 72 hours often determine what can be frozen.
What is the difference between CEO fraud and vendor email fraud?
CEO fraud impersonates a senior executive to pressure staff into an urgent payment, while vendor email fraud impersonates a supplier and sends altered banking details on an invoice. Both redirect legitimate payments to a criminal account.
Do you handle cases outside Florida?
Yes. We conduct business email compromise investigations nationwide and internationally, coordinating from our Florida-licensed home base, with much of the work performed remotely.
Why Hire Redbeard for a Business Email Compromise Investigation?
A single BEC scheme can span spoofed domains, a compromised mailbox, laundered wire transfers, and a cryptocurrency cash-out — several specialties at once. Redbeard brings cyber investigation, digital forensics, cryptocurrency tracing, and OSINT together under one Florida-licensed firm , serving businesses nationwide and internationally so your case is never fragmented across vendors who each see only part of the picture.
What is the cost? | how does it work?
At Redbeard Intelligence & Investigations, we offer upfront, transparent pricing that reflects the specific details and complexity of each case. Instead of vague estimates or hidden charges, we provide clear, upfront pricing tailored to your investigation’s unique requirements—without unexpected fees, hidden costs, or additional unexpected expenses. Our goal is to offer efficient, high-quality investigative and intelligence solutions with transparency and peace of mind.
To begin an investigation, intelligence operation, or technical security assessment, the first step is a confidential consultation via phone or email with one of our experienced professionals. During this initial discussion, we will gather key details about your situation to determine the most effective strategy tailored to your needs. Whether you require private investigative services, intelligence gathering, or technical security solutions, our team will develop a customized plan designed to achieve your objectives. Based on the specific requirements of your case, we will then provide a transparent price quote and/or invoice for the cost of the services needed. Throughout the process, we ensure clear and consistent communication, keeping you informed of any significant developments. Upon completion, you will receive a comprehensive written report detailing our findings, along with any supporting evidence such as photos, video documentation, or technical security assessments.
Helpful Guides
Contact us through phone or email for an initial discussion and provide key details about your needs.
Based on the specific requirements of your case, you'll will receive a flat-rate price quote and invoice for the cost of the services needed.
With pricing and mutual terms accepted, payment will be collected for the predetermined costs, and you'll officially become our client.
Throughout the process, we keep you informed of any significant developments. Upon completion, you will receive a written report detailing our findings, along with any supporting evidence or documentation.
