Protecting Against Email Interception: What Every Business and Client Needs to Know

In recent years, Irish businesses and their clients have faced a surge in sophisticated online frauds, with email interception in Ireland ranking among the most damaging. Criminals exploit trust between companies and clients by tampering with payment instructions, often leading to devastating financial losses.

For business owners, the threat goes beyond stolen funds. Reputation, client confidence and future relationships are all at risk. For clients, one wrong click or overlooked detail can mean losing hard-earned money to fraudsters.

In this blog, we explore the risks of email interception and outline how both business owners and clients can protect themselves.

What Is Email Interception?

Email interception occurs when criminals hack, spoof or manipulate legitimate email communications to divert payments into fraudulent accounts. It usually involves altering invoices or inserting false bank details, making the transfer appear legitimate.

Because these emails look authentic, fraud often goes unnoticed until the money has already been transferred.

Why It Matters for Business Owners

Businesses risk more than just financial loss. An intercepted payment can cause:

• Cash flow issues that disrupt day-to-day operations and planned projects
• Project delays as funds are recovered or replaced
• Disputes with clients if payments do not reach the correct account
• Reputational damage that undermines trust and professional credibility

Even if the fraud occurs on the client’s side, the company’s credibility may still be questioned. Regulators and insurers now expect businesses to take proactive cybersecurity measures, so inaction can have legal and financial consequences.

Why It Matters for Clients

For clients, the stakes are equally high. If money is transferred to a fraudster’s account, recovery is extremely difficult, often impossible. Beyond the financial hit, clients may also lose trust in the businesses they deal with, assuming their systems were not secure enough.

Vigilance and clear communication are essential before making any payment, no matter how familiar the sender or invoice may appear.

How Do Criminals Intercept Emails?

Fraudsters use several methods, including:

• Email spoofing: creating a fake email address that looks almost identical to the real one
• Compromised accounts: breaking into genuine accounts through weak passwords or phishing attacks
• Man-in-the-middle attacks: secretly intercepting messages while they are in transit

Once access is gained, fraudsters can alter invoices, change account details or redirect legitimate messages without detection.

Warning Signs for Businesses and Clients

Look out for:

• Sudden changes in bank details or payment methods
• Email addresses with slight spelling errors or unusual domains
• Requests marked as urgent or insisting on bypassing normal procedures
• Inconsistencies in email tone, grammar or formatting

How Businesses Can Strengthen Protection

• Enable multi-factor authentication on all business email accounts
• Verify all payment instructions using a trusted secondary channel, such as a direct phone call
• Educate staff and clients on how email interception scams work
• Keep IT systems and software updated to patch vulnerabilities
• Use secure online portals for sharing sensitive documents and payment details instead of relying on email

These steps help protect both your company’s funds and your clients’ confidence. For further practical guidance, the National Cyber Security Centre provides useful advice for Irish SMEs on secure online communication and payment processes in its SME Guidance document.

How Clients Can Reduce Their Risk

• Always confirm any new or updated bank details by phone with a trusted contact
• Avoid making large transfers based solely on email instructions
• Be suspicious of unexpected urgency, pressure or unusual language
• Secure personal email accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication

A joint approach between businesses and clients offers the best protection.

Who Is Responsible If Money Is Lost?

Responsibility depends on the circumstances. If a business fails to implement reasonable safeguards, it may face liability. However, if a client ignores advice to verify payment details, the loss may fall on them. This grey area underscores the importance of prevention and shared responsibility.

Final Thoughts

Email interception is one of the fastest-growing risks affecting Irish businesses and their clients. It targets the trust at the centre of financial relationships, disrupts payments and can create unnecessary financial stress.

At Chartered Capital, we help clients take a broader view of their finances, one that includes safeguarding wealth and maintaining stability in both business and personal financial planning. Awareness, verification and open communication between both parties are key to protecting hard-earned money.

Book a confidential consultation with Chartered Capital to review your financial arrangements and ensure your business and personal finances are protected from preventable risks.