Business email compromise protection Bradford: practical steps for local firms

If you run a business in Bradford with between 10 and 200 staff, this one is for you. Business Email Compromise (BEC) isn’t just a tech problem for the IT team; it’s a reputational and financial risk that can cost weeks of management time, client trust and, sometimes, real money. You don’t need to become an information security expert to protect your business, but you do need a sensible, proportionate plan that matches the size and risks of a West Yorkshire firm.

Why BEC matters to Bradford businesses

Local firms—whether trading from a converted mill near Canal Road, an office by Forster Square or a shop on Manningham Lane—handle invoices, payroll and supplier communications daily. That makes them attractive to criminals who impersonate staff or suppliers to trick someone into making a payment or revealing credentials. Unlike a smash-and-grab theft, the damage from BEC is often invisible at first: an email that looks familiar, a slightly altered bank account number, or an urgent request that bypasses routine checks.

How BEC usually plays out

There are common patterns: an email impersonating the MD asking for an urgent payment; a supplier invoice that arrives with new bank details; or HR-related requests to change payroll information. Attackers research using publicly available information—company websites, LinkedIn, or council procurement lists—and then exploit human shortcuts: a rushed finance team at month end, a well-meaning assistant, or a supplier the firm trusts. The end result is often a diverted payment or leaked access credentials.

Practical protection steps for your firm

Small and medium employers don’t need an army of specialists. Focus on measures that reduce the chance of an error and limit the impact when something goes wrong.

1. Stop treating email as the only proof

Make it policy: any instruction to change payment details or move money must be verified by an independent channel. A quick phone call to a known number, not the one in the email, is usually enough. Front-line staff should be empowered to pause payments without fear of being reprimanded for caution.

2. Train for the real world

Short, regular briefings work better than lengthy annual sessions. Use examples your team will recognise—fake invoices, CEO impersonation, payroll tampering—and rehearse the steps to verify. Practical drills that take ten minutes are more likely to change behaviour than a two-hour seminar that everyone forgets.

3. Simplify authorisation workflows

If every payment needs two sign-offs, make sure the process is clear and quick. Complex or unclear workflows encourage people to cut corners. Design authorisation so it’s inconvenient for fraudsters but straightforward for legitimate business—dual sign-off, delayed payments over a threshold, and visible audit trails.

4. Protect accounts that matter most

Not every email account needs the same level of protection. Prioritise finance, HR and executive inboxes for stronger controls: multifactor authentication, stricter password rules and inbox monitoring for suspicious forwarding rules. These are practical steps that reduce the blast radius if an account is compromised.

5. Keep a simple incident plan

Plan for detection, containment and recovery. If a suspicious payment is discovered, who calls the bank? Who freezes outgoing transfers? Having named people and a short checklist reduces fumbling and buys valuable time.

For local firms in Bradford looking for hands-on help to translate these measures into a plan you can live with, consider working with trusted tech partners who understand local business rhythms and can fit protections around how you actually work. A practical conversation about priorities and cost is usually more useful than a long technology sales pitch—see a local approach in action at natural anchor.

What to do if you suspect fraud

If you suspect a BEC event: stop, communicate and act. Pause payments, notify your bank immediately, and gather the relevant emails and transaction details. Inform the senior team and, if needed, the police. Even if recovery isn’t successful, rapid, clear action limits reputational damage and shows you took reasonable steps—something that matters to insurers and partners.

How to measure if your protections are working

Good measurement for a small or medium business is straightforward: fewer near-misses, quicker response times and less time spent investigating claims. Keep a simple log of suspicious incidents and review it quarterly. If staff feel confident to report odd communications without being blamed, that culture shift is a better metric than any single technical control.

Common objections—answered plainly

“We can’t afford fancy systems.” You don’t need them. Most useful controls are process and behaviour changes: verification calls, brief training and clear sign-off rules. “We’re too small to be targeted.” Size isn’t protection; attackers know smaller teams may rely on a few individuals and that’s exactly what they exploit. “It’ll slow us down.” Done well, the right checks add seconds, not hours, and prevent days of crisis management later.

FAQ

How likely is our Bradford business to be targeted?

Likelihood varies, but any business that pays suppliers or handles payroll is potentially exposed. Criminals don’t always pick the biggest firms; they pick the ones where quick gains are possible and controls are weak.

How much will basic protections cost?

Many impactful measures are low-cost: a short training session, clearer payment procedures and simple multi-factor authentication. The cost of prevention is normally a fraction of the potential loss and time spent recovering from a successful attack.

Should we involve the police or our insurer?

Yes. Contact the bank and inform your insurer quickly—both can take steps to stop payments and support recovery. The police can take reports and may be able to act if there’s a clear criminal trail.

Can we detect BEC before money leaves the account?

Sometimes. Detection is easier when staff are trained to recognise red flags and when dual sign-off or delayed payments give time to verify. The aim is to make it harder for an email alone to trigger a payment.

Do popular email systems protect against this?

Email providers offer tools that help, like warnings about external senders or suspicious login alerts, but technology isn’t a silver bullet. Combine system settings with process and culture changes for the best results.

Protecting your business against email compromise is largely about sensible processes, quick verification and a culture that treats unusual requests with healthy scepticism. If you put those pieces in place, you’ll save time, protect cash and keep credibility with customers and suppliers—leaving you calmer and able to get on with running the business.