Phishing scams: types, examples and protection for businesses

Phishing is today the most common and most dangerous entry point for attacks on companies. More than 90% of successful cyberattacks begin with a single well crafted email that persuades an employee to click, open an attachment, or enter their credentials. The attacker does not have to break through a firewall or hack a server - it is enough to deceive a single person. That is why phishing scams are not merely an IT problem, but a business risk that can cost a company money, data, and reputation.

What is phishing and why is it the #1 entry point for attacks on companies

Phishing is a form of social engineering in which an attacker sends a fake message - most often by email - that appears to come from a trusted source (a bank, a supplier, Microsoft, a colleague, or a director). The goal is to get the victim to reveal a password, click a malicious link, open an infected attachment, or make a payment to the wrong account.

The reason phishing attacks are the #1 threat to companies is simple: they target the weakest link - the human. Technology keeps getting better, but people still make mistakes under pressure, in a hurry, or when a message feels urgent and authoritative. A few key reasons why phishing works so well:

• It is cheap and large scale - with a single click an attacker sends thousands of messages and only needs one person to fall for it.
• It bypasses technical protection - a firewall and antivirus do not stop a legitimate message into which the victim voluntarily entered a password.
• It exploits emotions - fear, urgency, authority, and curiosity ("your account has been blocked", "the director needs this urgently").
• It is easy to personalize - data from LinkedIn and a company website make highly convincing, targeted messages possible.

Types of phishing

Phishing is not a single technique but an entire family of scams. They differ by channel (email, SMS, phone) and by how targeted they are. Understanding the types helps a company recognize and report an attack in time.

Type of phishing	Channel	How it works	Example target
Email phishing	Email	Mass fake messages that imitate well known brands and ask for a click or login.	All employees
Spear phishing	Email	A targeted message tailored to a specific person, with real names and context.	Accounting, IT, management
BEC / fake CEO	Email	The attacker poses as the director and requests an urgent payment or a change of details.	Finance, bookkeeping
Smishing	SMS	A fake SMS with a link (e.g. parcel delivery, bank) that leads to a fake page.	Employee mobile phones
Vishing	Phone	A fake "support" or "bank" call that asks for a password, code, or remote access.	Help desk, users
Clone phishing	Email	A copy of a previously legitimate message with the link or attachment swapped out.	Existing correspondence

How to recognize a phishing message

Although attacks are increasingly convincing, almost every phishing message carries several warning signs. Teach employees to pause and verify when they notice any of the following:

• Urgency and threat - "act immediately", "the account will be blocked", "a penalty if you do not pay today".
• A suspicious sender address - the name looks familiar, but the domain is wrong (e.g. microsft-support.com or @gmail.com instead of the official domain).
• Links that do not lead where they claim - when you hover the mouse over the link, the displayed address does not match the text.
• Unexpected attachments - a ZIP, ISO, HTML, or macro enabled document that you "need to open".
• A request for data - passwords, OTP codes, card details, or a change of bank account.
• Language and visual errors - strange wording, poor translation, a misplaced logo.
• An unusual tone from a colleague or boss - the message asks for secrecy, bypassing procedures, or that you "tell no one".

Three real scenarios for companies

1. A fake supplier changes the IBAN

Accounting receives an email from a "supplier" the company regularly does business with. The message politely announces that they have changed banks and asks that the next invoice be paid to a new IBAN. The sender address is almost identical to the real one. Without a verification by phone, a payment of thousands of euros goes to the attacker. This is one of the most common and most expensive forms of BEC fraud.

2. A fake director requests an urgent payment

An employee in finance receives a message seemingly from the director: "I am in a meeting right now, we urgently need to pay this partner, send me the confirmation when it is done, do not call me because I am busy." The pressure of authority and urgency push the employee to skip the usual control and execute the order.

3. A fake bank or Microsoft login page

An employee receives a message "your Microsoft 365 account is expiring, sign in to keep it". The link leads to a page identical to the real Microsoft login. As soon as they enter their username and password, the attacker captures them and takes over the business email - from where they go on to send phishing to colleagues and partners.

How a company protects itself from phishing

Effective phishing protection rests on two pillars: technical measures that stop as many attacks as possible before they reach people, and human measures that train employees to recognize what does get through.

Technical protection

• SPF, DKIM, and DMARC - email authentication that prevents anyone from spoofing your domain and sending messages in your name. DMARC with a "reject" policy drastically reduces spoofing.
• Anti spam and anti phishing filters - advanced filters recognize suspicious links, fake senders, and known attacks before they reach the inbox.
• Sandboxing of attachments and links - attachments and links are opened in an isolated environment where their behavior is checked before delivery to the user.
• Multi factor authentication (MFA) - even when a password leaks, MFA prevents the attacker from logging in. This is one of the most cost effective single measures.
• 24/7 SOC monitoring - continuous tracking of suspicious logins, unusual mailbox rules, and early signs of compromise enables a fast response. Our SOC monitoring detects attacks even when a message gets through.

All of the above forms the foundation of good email security - a company's first line of defense.

Human protection: education and simulated campaigns

Technology never catches 100% of attacks, so an aware employee is the last and most important line of defense. The most effective measures are:

• Regular education - short, practical training on how to recognize and report phishing.
• Simulated phishing campaigns - controlled fake messages that safely measure who falls for them, with targeted follow up education instead of punishment.
• A clear reporting procedure - a "report phishing button" and a known address where suspicious messages are sent.
• A double check rule - every IBAN change or urgent payment is confirmed by phone on a known number.

This is exactly what our phishing education program offers - a combination of training and simulations that measurably reduces the number of employees who fall for attacks.

What to do if someone falls for it

A fast and calm response limits the damage. If an employee clicks, enters data, or makes a payment, follow these steps:

• Immediately change the password of the compromised account and everywhere the same password was used.
• Sign out of all active sessions and check whether MFA is enabled.
• Notify the IT/SOC team without delay - time is crucial for preventing spread.
• Check the mailbox rules - attackers often set up automatic forwarding or deletion of messages.
• If a payment has been made, immediately contact the bank and request a recall, and try to stop the transaction.
• Report the incident to the competent CERT and, if personal data has leaked, consider the reporting obligation.
• Notify colleagues and partners if phishing has already been sent onward from the account.
• Analyze and learn - determine how the attack got through and strengthen email security and education.

Phishing scams will not disappear - they are only becoming more convincing, especially with artificial intelligence tools. But a company that combines strong technical protection, constant SOC monitoring, and educated people becomes too hard a target for an attacker. The best time to protect yourself was yesterday, the second best is today.

Frequently asked questions

What is phishing, explained simply?

Phishing is a scam in which an attacker uses a fake message (most often email) to try to steal your password, data, or money by posing as someone you trust.

How to protect a company from phishing?

With a combination of technical measures (SPF/DKIM/DMARC, anti spam filters, sandboxing, MFA, SOC monitoring) and employee education together with simulated phishing campaigns. Both layers together provide the best protection.

What is the difference between phishing and spear phishing?

Classic phishing is mass scale and sent to many people at once, while spear phishing is targeted at a specific person or department with personalized data, making it far more convincing and dangerous.

What should I do if I clicked on a phishing link?

Immediately change your password, sign out of all sessions, enable MFA, and notify the IT/SOC team. If you entered card details or made a payment, contact the bank urgently.