The ‘You’re Fired’ Termination Scam: The Latest Hack
An email from HR hits your inbox like a ton of bricks.
Subject: Notice of Termination.
You open it, heart pounding. There’s a link – supposedly your employee portal. You click it, log in, and while the page loads, your brain is spinning:
How could this be real?
Well… It’s not. And you’ve just been scammed.
While many of us have heard of typical job-related scams, there’s one that flies under the radar: the employee termination scam.
It’s time we talked about it.
The Hack: Termination and Cancellation Scams
These hacks usually fall into one of three buckets:
1. Employee Termination
Just like the example above: you get an email from “HR” or a “company exec” stating that you’ve been terminated. To view the details, you’re directed to a portal – but it’s a phishing site built to steal your credentials. This is the core of a termination scam.
2. Contract Cancellation
A business receives a surprise email from a longtime supplier or vendor canceling a contract. It may include an attachment labeled something like “final invoice.” Open it, and boom – you’re infected with malware.
3. Freelance Cancellation
Freelancers get messaged that their services are no longer needed alongside a request for “final billing info” with a link or form attached. That link or form? A trap to steal your banking details or actual funds.
In all three cases, the scam relies on one thing: panic. The moment someone thinks they’ve lost a job, a client, or a contract, they’re more likely to click something they shouldn’t.
Why Is This So Dangerous?
Because it works.
Unlike other phishing that pretends your system is infected or your software needs updating, this hits a deeper nerve – your job and your income.
When you’re afraid of losing something so serious, most won’t think twice before clicking links they shouldn’t be. And that’s exactly what the hackers want – panicked responses without proper consideration.
And the fallout? Brutal:
- Compromised Accounts: One stolen login risks the entire company. That’s because a single account is just part of a larger attack surface. A hacker getting in through one door can then open many others.
- Malware Infections: Malware can spread across a business faster than any real-world virus, stealing sensitive business and client data while damaging systems in the process.
- Reputation Damage: Clients will find out. And potential customers may think twice about working with you. In fact, 55% of people in the U.S. are less likely to continue doing business with companies that are breached.
- Downtime and Disruption: Best case? A distracted employee. Worst case? Your systems grind to a halt while IT scrambles to contain the breach, creating panic and expensive downtime.
How Can You Spot a Termination Scam?
With a calm mind and sharp eyes. Here’s what to watch for:
Generic Greetings + Urgency
“Dear Employee” and “Act Immediately” are red flags. Scammers don’t usually know your name – and even if they do, that doesn’t make the message legit. Their secret weapon? Panic. Creating a sense of urgency is a hackers #1 tactic to get you to click without thinking.
Suspicious Links
If an email is trying to send you to an “employee portal” you’ve never heard of before, don’t click it. If you do have a portal, hover before you click. If the link doesn’t match your actual company portal, don’t touch it.
Weird Email Address
Typos, gibberish, or sketchy domain? Huge warning signs for a termination scam.
And most importantly…
ALWAYS CHECK BEFORE RESPONDING.
A quick message to HR or your manager can save you – and your company – from a serious breach. And, hopefully, you’ll learn you haven’t actually been fired
Staying Safe with an MSP
Stopping scams before they reach your team is half the battle – and it’s a lot of work. That’s where a Managed Service Provider (MSP) comes in.
Here’s how they help:
Advanced Security Software
A solid MSP sets up anti-phishing tools that filter out dangerous emails before they hit your inbox. They’ll also enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) – a must-have for protecting accounts, especially if login credentials ever get compromised by a termination scam or similar phishing tactic.
Continuous Software Updates
A good MSP keeps your long list of software up to date to make sure every system is patched, secure, and ready to go.
Employee Awareness Training
The best MSPs train their clients to recognize a termination scam before it’s too late. Some even run phishing simulations to test how employees react. According to Hoxhunt’s 2025 Phishing Trends Report, this kind of training can reduce phishing threats by 86%. That’s a serious edge.
27/7 Monitoring
MSPs like The 20 MSP provide round-the-clock threat detection and response. That means your business stays protected even when you’re off the clock.
Moral of the Story
Phishing isn’t going away – and it’s only getting smarter. The termination scam is just one tool in a hacker’s growing arsenal. Staying ahead means more than just awareness: keep your systems updated, train your team regularly, and invest in strong cybersecurity solutions.
The simplest way to do all of that? Partner with a trusted MSP.
About The 20 MSP
As a leading provider of managed IT services, The 20 MSP serves thousands of businesses nationwide, including single and multi-location organizations, delivering white-glove service, secure and streamlined IT infrastructure, and 24/7/365 support. We believe in building lasting relationships with clients founded on trust, communication, and the delivery of high-value services for a fair and predictable price. Our client’s success is our success, and we are committed to helping each and every organization we serve leverage technology to secure a competitive advantage and achieve new growth.
