Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/05/docusigns_envelope_bec/
Source: The Register
Title: Criminals open DocuSign’s Envelope API to make BEC special delivery
Feedly Summary: Why? Because that’s where the money is
Business email compromise scammers are trying to up their success rate by using a DocuSign API.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses a rise in business email compromise (BEC) scams where attackers exploit the DocuSign API to create fraudulent e-sign requests. This method bypasses typical phishing defenses due to the legitimacy of the DocuSign platform, resulting in significant financial losses for businesses.
Detailed Description: The provided text outlines a concerning trend in business email compromise scams, particularly highlighting how attackers leverage the DocuSign API to enhance their fraudulent activities.
Key points include:
– **Exploitation of DocuSign API**: Attackers use the official DocuSign Envelope: create API to automate and customize e-sign requests, making them appear legitimate.
– **Legitimacy of Requests**: The invoices sent via DocuSign do not contain malicious links or attachments, which helps them evade scrutiny from spam and phishing filters.
– **Financial Impact**: The FBI reported $2.9 billion lost by U.S. businesses to BEC scams in 2023, indicating the scale of the problem.
– **Response from DocuSign**: Despite recognizing the issue, DocuSign’s response indicates that solutions may take time, and they recommend vigilance among users.
– **Protective Measures**: The recommended defenses include verifying the sender’s email address and scrutinizing payment details to prevent falling victim to these scams.
Overall, this highlights a critical intersection of technology and security wherein legitimate services can be exploited by malicious actors, stressing the need for enhanced awareness and proactive measures within organizations to mitigate the risks associated with digital signatures and document management tools.