Protecting your practice from AI-enhanced Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams

In the past, a poorly written phishing email with glaring typos was enough to alert most staff that something was amiss. But those days are gone. Today’s cybercriminals are armed with AI tools that can generate flawless, convincing messages that mimic the tone, style, and urgency of legitimate business communication. Known as Business Email Compromise (BEC), this cyberattack method has evolved into a sophisticated, high-stakes game that’s catching even the most tech-savvy professionals off guard, including those in the veterinary field.

BEC scams typically involve fraudsters posing as trusted contacts, such as practice owners, vendors, or payroll processors, to trick employees into transferring money or sharing sensitive information. What makes BEC particularly dangerous is that these attacks don’t rely on malicious links or infected attachments. Instead, they exploit human trust. When layered with artificial intelligence, attackers can scrape email threads, imitate writing styles, and even clone voices or schedule fake meetings, all to increase the credibility of the deception.

For veterinary practices, the risk is especially acute. With smaller administrative teams, fast- paced environments, and frequent digital communications between staff, suppliers, and clients, these businesses are prime targets. A single email, appearing to come from a practice manager requesting an urgent wire transfer, can result in financial losses, client data exposure, and reputational harm. As cybercriminals sharpen their tools with AI, the question for veterinarians isn’t whether they’ll be targeted, but when, and whether they’ll be ready.

Recognizing the Risks of AI-Enhanced BEC Scams

Veterinary practices need to understand how artificial intelligence has supercharged traditional BEC tactics. AI allows attackers to scan massive volumes of data, mimic natural language, and personalize communications so effectively that even seasoned professionals can be fooled. It is not just about fake invoices anymore; attackers can now simulate entire conversations, fabricate legitimate-looking email chains, and convincingly impersonate key personnel.

The first step toward protecting your practice is recognizing how the threat has evolved.

• AI can mimic writing styles by analyzing previous email threads, making fraudulent messages nearly indistinguishable from legitimate communication.

• Chatbots powered by large language models can be used to conduct real-time conversations via email or messaging platforms, increasing the chances of a successful scam.

• Voice cloning technology can be used in voicemail scams or voice messages to mimic the tone and speech of trusted individuals.

• Fraudsters often target specific roles, such as finance managers or front-desk staff, who are responsible for handling payments or client records.

• Some attackers use publicly available data, such as LinkedIn profiles or veterinary association directories, to target practices based on their size, structure, or affiliations.

Being aware of how AI enhances these scams is the first defense. Staff should be trained to identify subtle cues, such as a message that feels slightly "off," unusually urgent requests, or emails received outside normal business hours.

Strengthening Your Practice's Defenses

Once a veterinary practice understands the nature of AI-driven BEC threats, the next step is to implement safeguards that make these attacks harder to execute and easier to detect. This does not always require expensive technology. In many cases, improving internal communication protocols and raising awareness can go a long way in stopping these scams before they cause harm.

A layered defense strategy should include the following actions: Establish clear protocols for financial transactions, ensuring that no single person can authorize or process large transfers without an additional verification step. This should include a mandatory secondary verification method such as a phone call, face-to-face confirmation, or secure messaging platform before approving any payment requests. Document these procedures and make them a part of staff onboarding and ongoing training.

• Implement role-based access controls to limit financial and sensitive data access based on job responsibilities. Staff should only be able to access the information and systems they need to perform their roles, reducing the risk of internal compromise or accidental misuse.

• Use email authentication frameworks like SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) to validate incoming messages. These help verify whether an email claiming to be from your domain is authorized, reducing the risk of spoofed messages reaching staff inboxes.

• Encourage a culture of openness where staff feel comfortable reporting suspicious messages or activity without fear of judgment or penalty. Establish a clear and simple mechanism for employees to forward questionable emails to IT or management for further inspection.

• Conduct regular cybersecurity training sessions that go beyond basic awareness. These should include role-specific scenarios, real-life case studies, and hands-on simulations of AI-generated BEC attempts to help staff identify subtle and sophisticated threats.

• Use intelligent email filters and AI-driven security solutions that monitor communication behavior and flag anomalies, such as messages sent outside business hours or unusual tone and language from known contacts. These tools can serve as a frontline defense against BEC attempts.

• Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for accessing any practice systems, including email, scheduling software, and financial platforms. MFA significantly increases the difficulty for attackers to gain unauthorized access, even if credentials are compromised.

• Perform comprehensive audits of your communication and financial systems on a regular basis. This should include checking for outdated software, unpatched vulnerabilities, redundant access permissions, and gaps in compliance protocols that could be exploited by attackers.

Most importantly, cybersecurity is not only an IT issue but a business survival issue. By promoting a culture of vigilance and adopting proactive policies, veterinary practices can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to AI-enhanced BEC scams.