Phishing Scams Targeting Small Businesses: What to Look For
You can spot most phishing emails by five red flags: false urgency, a sender address that doesn't match the display name, unusual requests from "leadership," unexpected links or attachments, and generic greetings.
Jared Casper
June 7, 2026
6 min read
The Evolution of Phishing
Today's phishing emails are highly targeted and grammatically perfect (thanks to AI).
They are designed to look like a vendor invoice, an urgent message from the boss, or a security alert from Microsoft.
Red Flags Your Team Must Know
1. The Urgent Request
Hackers create a false sense of urgency so you act before thinking: "Urgent: Wire Transfer Required" or "Your Account Will Be Suspended in 24 Hours."
2. The Mismatched Sender Address
The name might say "Microsoft Support," but if you click on the email address, it actually says support@micr0soft-security-update.com. Always verify the actual email address, not just the display name.
3. Unusual Requests from Leadership
A classic scam is an email pretending to be the CEO or owner, asking an employee to quickly buy gift cards for a "client presentation." Train your team to always verify unusual requests via phone or in person.
4. Suspicious Links and Attachments
Never click a link to log into an account. Go directly to the website yourself. Be extremely wary of unexpected PDF or ZIP attachments, especially invoices you weren't expecting.
5. Generic Greetings
While targeted attacks will use your name, many phishing emails still use generic greetings like "Dear Customer" or "Valued Employee."
Train Your Human Firewall
Technology can only block so much. Your employees are your last line of defense. Ask us about security awareness training, or take the Cyber Risk Quiz to see how exposed you are.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common phishing scam against small businesses?
A classic one is an email pretending to be the owner or CEO asking an employee to quickly buy gift cards or wire money. Always verify unusual requests by phone or in person.
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