As if businesses didn't have enough to worry about with hackerstrying to constantly access their information, a new, sophisticatedthreat is looming and most companies won't even know they've beenhit until it is too late.

Social engineering fraud frequently targets companies that haveinternational branches or deal with suppliers in other countries.The perpetrators gain access to the company's e-mails through aTrojan or some other type of virus that allows them to seeeverything coming in and going out. They monitor the e-mails formonths, taking no action–just watching. They are particularlyinterested in correspondence between international offices andsuppliers because everything is handled primarily via email ratherthan phone calls or Skype. This makes it easier for the thieves toperpetrate the fraud.

The perpetrators watch to see who works in accounts payable,when payments are made to international vendors, how they are paidand the amounts of the invoices. They also monitor the tone of thee-mails and the kinds of information that is shared. Is it strictlyprofessional? Do the parties share any personal information such asupdates about their kids? Do they have shared interests that theydiscuss?