Protect your business from one of the most sophisticated and costly cyber threats: Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams.

For more expert advice on commercial risk reduction and insurance, and to contact Butler Byers for the free BEC Scams Guide discussed in this podcast, visit their website: 🌐 https://butlerbyers.com/

What is a BEC Scam? Commercial Risk Reduction Specialist Colin Rooke of Butler Byers joins Paul Martin to dispel the myths around 'cyber' and reveal what a cyberattack actually looks like for most businesses: a deliberate, targeted BEC scam. Learn why these criminals are not after your backups or credit card data, but are instead focused on key executives with access to company funds.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why the average successful BEC scam costs companies $4.9 million.

How cybercriminals use your company's website, LinkedIn, and even AI to research and target a single person.

Why top-level executives (CEO/CFO) are the most vulnerable targets.

The surprising tactics criminals use to impersonate IT and attorneys to steal data and money.

The bad guys are putting in the work, and so must you. Contact Butler Byers to get the quick-read guide (5-10 minutes) and learn how to recognize and repel these attacks.

Host: Paul Martin, Business Commentator

Guest: Colin Rooke, Commercial Risk Reduction Specialist with Butler Byers

Podcast: Risky Business Commercial Insurance with Butler Byers

00:00 – Introduction & why BEC scams are exploding

00:40 – What a Business Email Compromise scam looks like

01:55 – Why BEC scams are harder to detect than ransomware

03:20 – The psychology behind successful BEC attacks

04:40 – Real-world examples of payment diversion fraud

06:10 – Why traditional cyber defenses often fail

07:25 – The role of social engineering in BEC losses

08:45 – How criminals impersonate vendors and executives

10:05 – The financial impact of a single successful BEC attack

11:30 – Why banks often can’t recover stolen funds

13:00 – Where cyber insurance responds — and where it doesn’t

14:30 – Internal controls that reduce BEC exposure

16:00 – Training staff to spot red flags

17:15 – Final advice for businesses handling payments

Are you a business owner in Saskatchewan? There's new legislation you need to know about! In this episode of Risky Business Commercial Insurance, host Paul Martin is joined by commercial risk reduction specialist Colin Rooke of Butler Buyers, along with Grant Douziech and Sherry Timmerman from Apex Performance Consultants, to discuss the mandatory workplace violence policy and prevention plan.

Since May 2024, every employer in Saskatchewan is required to have this plan in place under The Saskatchewan Employment Act. We dive into:

The Mandate: Why the Saskatchewan government extended this protection to all employers and contractors, not just high-risk industries.

The Insurance Angle: How having a proper plan implemented can help you secure better coverage and rates with your insurance provider, especially for employment practices liability.

Employer Obligations: What the legislation requires, including investigation procedures for any violent incidents.

Defining 'Violence': Understanding that it can include verbal threats and heated arguments, not just physical harm.

Next Steps: Resources for businesses feeling overwhelmed and how experts can help implement the required policy and plan.

Don't wait for litigation—get proactive about your risk management!

Guests:

Colin Rooke, Commercial Risk Reduction Specialist, Butler Buyers

Grant Douziech, Apex Performance Consultants

Sherry Timmerman, Apex Performance Consultants

00:00 – Introduction & why this issue is flying under the radar

00:45 – What “workplace violence” actually includes (it’s broader than you think)

02:10 – New Saskatchewan legislation explained

03:55 – Why every employer is now required to comply

05:10 – Industries that triggered the legislative change

06:35 – Why most business owners don’t know this exists

07:45 – The compliance gap facing small and mid-sized businesses

09:10 – Insurance implications: employment practices liability

10:45 – How insurers view businesses without a prevention plan

12:05 – What a violence prevention plan must include

13:30 – Incident reporting, investigations, and documentation

15:05 – Real-world examples that qualify as workplace violence

16:45 – How risk reduction strengthens your insurance position

18:00 – Final takeaways for business owners

Ransomware is back—and it’s bigger than ever.

2023 shattered records for cybercrime payouts, with attacks now happening 4,000 times a day in the U.S. alone. But here’s the twist: hackers aren’t just locking your systems anymore—they’re stealing your most sensitive data and threatening to leak it.

In this episode of Risky Business, Paul Martin and Colin Rook dive into:

Why ransomware spiked after a brief dip in 2022

How criminals shifted from encryption to pure extortion

The shocking stats every business leader needs to know for 2024

What small and mid-sized businesses can do right now to protect themselves

If you think cyberattacks only happen to “the big guys”—think again.

00:00 – Introduction & year-end cyber trends

00:50 – Ransomware makes a major comeback

02:10 – Why cybercriminals shifted away from AI-driven attacks

03:20 – Ransomware payouts surge and success rates climb

04:00 – Cybercrime as a for-profit industry

05:30 – The shift from data encryption to data extortion

06:55 – State-sponsored cybercrime and geopolitical ties

07:45 – Why paying the ransom doesn’t protect you anymore

09:15 – How cybercriminals are evolving their targets

10:15 – Third-party vendors become the new weak point

12:00 – Where cyber risk is heading in 2024–2025

13:25 – Why businesses need heavyweight cyber protection

14:25 – How cyber insurance helps identify hidden threats

16:15 – What small and mid-sized businesses can do now

17:10 – 4,000 ransomware attacks per day: final warning

👉 Learn how Butler Buyers can help protect your business: https://butlerbuyers.ca

#CyberSecurity #Ransomware #SmallBusiness

Artificial intelligence is exploding into the workplace — boosting productivity, reshaping jobs, and raising serious new risks. In this episode of Risky Business with Butler Byers, Paul Martin and Colin Rooke break down:

How AI will change the way we work in 2024 and beyond

The dangers of job insecurity and workforce unrest

Cyber threats you’ve probably overlooked — like QR codes

Why business leaders and insurers need to get ahead of AI’s risks now

👉 Stay informed, stay protected, and prepare your business for the AI era.

00:00 Intro  

01:10 How AI Is Changing the Modern Workplace  

03:16 AI Is Here to Stay  

07:31 Productivity vs. Job Security  

08:41 The Hidden Cyber Risks of AI  

11:22 The Dangers of Unchecked AI Content  

13:53 Preparing Your Workforce for AI  

15:14 QR Codes The Cyber Threat You Missed  

16:53 QR Codes in Your Living Room  

17:34 Final Thoughts Staying Ahead of AI Risks