Detection Method: Natural Language Understanding

Natural Language Understanding (NLU) uses machine learning algorithms to analyze and interpret message content, helping systems detect subtle signs of malicious intent. Instead of just matching keywords, NLU looks at the context, tone, urgency, and intent behind the message.
NLU can help you detect:
  • Urgent language commonly used in BEC attacks impersonating executives or departments
  • Credential theft attempts disguised as legitimate service notifications
  • Extortion or blackmail tactics used in intimidation campaigns
  • Financial terms typically found in payment fraud or invoice scams
  • Deceptive job offers designed to steal sensitive information
For example, NLU can identify when an email uses urgent language ("immediate attention required") combined with financial requests ("wire transfer") and impersonation, which are common tactics in BEC attacks.
Blog Posts
Hiding a $50,000 BEC financial fraud in a fake email thread · Blog · Sublime Security
Hiding a $50,000 BEC financial fraud in a fake email thread · Blog · Sublime Security
Callback phishing via invoice abuse and distribution list relays · Blog · Sublime Security
Callback phishing via invoice abuse and distribution list relays · Blog · Sublime Security
B2B freight-forwarding scams on the rise to evade financial fraud crackdowns · Blog · Sublime Security
B2B freight-forwarding scams on the rise to evade financial fraud crackdowns · Blog · Sublime Security
Hidden credential phishing within EML attachments · Blog · Sublime Security
Hidden credential phishing within EML attachments · Blog · Sublime Security
Adversarial ML: Extortion via LLM Manipulation Tactics · Blog · Sublime Security
Adversarial ML: Extortion via LLM Manipulation Tactics · Blog · Sublime Security
Combating GenAI Email Attacks with BERT LLM · Blog · Sublime Security
Combating GenAI Email Attacks with BERT LLM · Blog · Sublime Security
Payroll Fraud via LLM-Generated Emails · Blog · Sublime Security
Payroll Fraud via LLM-Generated Emails · Blog · Sublime Security
Fake invoice used to conduct $16,800 BEC attempt · Blog · Sublime Security
Fake invoice used to conduct $16,800 BEC attempt · Blog · Sublime Security
QR Code Phishing: Decoding Hidden Threats · Blog · Sublime Security
QR Code Phishing: Decoding Hidden Threats · Blog · Sublime Security
Call Me Maybe? The Rise of Callback Phishing Emails · Blog · Sublime Security
Call Me Maybe? The Rise of Callback Phishing Emails · Blog · Sublime Security
Attack Types (6):
Credential Phishing
Extortion
BEC/Fraud
Callback Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Spam
Tactics & Techniques (21):
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Spoofing
Free file host
Out of band pivot
Evasion
Free email provider
Impersonation: Employee
Encryption
PDF
Image as content
Scripting
QR code
Free subdomain host
Lookalike domain
Impersonation: VIP
HTML smuggling
Open redirect
ICS Phishing
Macros
IPFS
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Brand impersonation: SoFi
13h ago
Aug 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Extortion / sextortion in attachment from untrusted sender
22h ago
Aug 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
Extortion
Social engineering
Spoofing
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Optical Character Recognition
Sender analysis
Brand impersonation: Cloud services with credential theft intent
23h ago
Aug 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
URL analysis
BEC: Tax document request
23h ago
Aug 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Spoofing
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Service abuse: Evernote link
2d ago
Aug 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
URL analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Service abuse: Wufoo credential theft
2d ago
Aug 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Content analysis
HTML analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Link: Mismatched free file host links with document lure
2d ago
Aug 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Free file host
Social engineering
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Content analysis
Callback phishing in body or attachment (untrusted sender)
2d ago
Aug 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
VIP Impersonation via Google Group relay with suspicious indicators
2d ago
Aug 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
Free email provider
Impersonation: Employee
Social engineering
Spoofing
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Brand impersonation: Microsoft with embedded logo and credential theft language
3d ago
Aug 4th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Spam: Cold outreach from Cloudflare-hosted newly registered domain
3d ago
Aug 4th, 2026
Sublime Security
Spam
Evasion
Social engineering
Whois
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Credential phishing: Financial lure via ActiveCampaign infrastructure
3d ago
Aug 4th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
BEC/Fraud: Fake investment outreach from suspicious TLD
4d ago
Aug 3rd, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Brand impersonation: Sharepoint
4d ago
Aug 3rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: Encrypted PDF with credential theft body
9d ago
Jul 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Encryption
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Content analysis
Exif analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: Fictitious invoice using LinkedIn's address
9d ago
Jul 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
PDF
Social engineering
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Exif analysis
Service abuse: Postman reply-to mismatch with credential theft intent
9d ago
Jul 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Out of band pivot
Sender analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Brand impersonation: Microsoft Planner with suspicious link
10d ago
Jul 28th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Credential theft: JavaScript date manipulation in HTML body
10d ago
Jul 28th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Scripting
Social engineering
HTML analysis
Javascript analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Brand impersonation: USPS
11d ago
Jul 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
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