7 Phishing Attacks Every Business Should Know About
Phishing’s been a problem for nearly 30 years, and it’s not going anywhere. In fact, hackers are improving their tactics. New techniques, better technology, and the rise of AI are making phishing harder to spot than ever. In 2025 alone, an estimated 3.4 billion phishing emails were sent daily.
We’ve covered the basics of phishing before, but today we want to take a step back and review the most common types of phishing attacks, including how to recognize them. Think of it as a phishing compendium: something you can bookmark and reference if you ever feel unsure about a strange email, phone, call, or message.
Let’s get into it.
First: What Is Phishing?
For those who need a refresher: phishing is a fraudulent practice where attackers impersonate a legitimate company or individual to trick people into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or login credentials.
At its core, phishing is a form of social engineering that tricks people into handing out their valuable information.
How To Spot a Phishing Attempt: Quick Tips
While each phishing tactic has unique traits, many attacks share the following warning signs:
Urgency or Threatening Language
Phishing messages often try to rush you into making a mistake. Subject lines like “URGENT,” “Action Required,” or “Your account will be locked” are all designed to get you to act before thinking. If you’re feeling rushed, you could be reading a phishing message.
Strange Language or Images
Typos, awkward phrasing, or images that don’t seem quite right are common red flags that signal a phishing attack. Some attackers use words and images that look close enough to the real deal – e.g, M1crosoft instead of Microsoft – to slip past quick glances.
Unexpected Notifications
If you receive an alert about an account, invoice, or voicemail you weren’t expecting, think before you click. If that email doesn’t make sense, chances are it’s fake.
Treat Attachments with Caution
Email attachments can carry malware and other nasty surprises. Never download attachments from unexpected or suspicious emails.
Odd or Suspicious URLs
Most phishing attacks lead to fake websites. Hover over links before clicking to preview the destination URL. If it doesn’t match the legitimate site (and watch for typos), don’t click it.
Tip: Open a known login page separately and compare the URLs.
The 7 Forms of Phishing Attacks
With the basics covered, here are seven of the most common forms of phishing attacks you should be aware of:
1. Email Phishing
The most basic and common form of phishing. This attack enters your inbox under the guise of a legitimate company or person, with a link leading to a fake website designed to steal your information.
Example: An email pretending to be from Amazon advertises a “limited-time” deal and asks you to log in to redeem it.
2. Spear Phishing
This highly-personalized form of phishing uses personal details – such as your name, company, or role – to craft convincing messages that appeal to their victims individually.
Example: An attacker impersonating a known vendor sends a fake invoice to an accounts receivable employee, addressing them by name and referencing the correct company and address. When the employee attempts to pay the invoice, they unknowingly provide the attacker with sensitive payment information.
3. Whaling
Whaling targets the “big fish” like senior executives, finance leaders, business owners, or other high-profile individuals. These attacks are carefully crafted to gain access to large stores of sensitive data or funds.
Example: An email sent to an executive impersonates a long-time vendor and requests updated payment information or urgent approval for a transaction.
4. Vishing (Voice Phishing)
Vishing uses phone calls (live or automated) to trick victims into sharing sensitive information. Attackers often impersonate banks, government agencies, or internal staff. Advances in agentic AI have taken vishing even further by accurately cloning voices, making these attacks harder than ever to spot.
Example: An AI audio clone of a CFO requests an urgent wire transfer. This happened in 2024, resulting in a $25 million loss for a multinational company.
5. Smishing (SMS Phishing)
Smishing is phishing through text messages. Like any other phishing attack, these messages claim to be from trusted organizations and may include malicious links that redirect to fake websites.
Example: A text claims you have an overdue toll fee that must be paid immediately via a provided link, even though government agencies will never ask for payment through unsolicited text messages.
6. Quishing (QR code Phishing)
Quishing uses malicious QR codes found in emails, ads, or even physical locations. When a user scans the QR code, they’re redirected to fake websites designed to steal sensitive information or infect devices with malware. This attack type is growing rapidly, with a reported 25% year-over-year increase.
Example: A QR code at a restaurant advertises free Wi-Fi, but it has been replaced with a malicious code that redirects users to an access page designed to steal information.
7. Multi-Pronged Phishing
Multi-pronged phishing isn’t a single phishing method, but a coordinated attack that combines multiple techniques. Attackers may spread these attempts over days or even months, using each interaction to build trust and make the scam appear legitimate.
Example: A sudden email alerts you that your password is about to expire. A follow-up text urges you to call support. When you call, a vishing attack occurs, with the attacker posing as legitimate IT staff. This is a combination of email phishing, smishing, and vishing.
How to Protect Your Business
Beyond catching the early warning signs, here is how you can protect your business from phishing attacks:
1. Pause and Consider
Take a moment to think before clicking. Were you expecting the message? Does something feel off? Even if the email seems routine, taking a few moments to consider its legitimacy can save you from a phishing attack.
2. Verify the sender
Even if the email appears to be a legitimate Google or Microsoft address, check the full email header and address. Typos or incorrect emails can help you catch a phishing attempt early.
3. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to confirm login attempts using a second method, like a mobile app or text message. Even if a password is stolen, MFA can reduce the risk of account compromise by up to 99%.
4. Keep software and security tools up to date
Attackers are constantly finding new ways to slip through security cracks. Regular software and security updates patch known vulnerabilities and help close security gaps.
5. Report suspicious emails
Even if an email seems legitimate, forwarding it to your IT team for review can help determine whether it’s a phishing attack or not. If you ever have any doubts, it’s far better to be safe than sorry.
6. Use unique passwords across accounts
Using different passwords across your accounts limits the damage caused by a single password compromise.
7. Train your team
Ongoing cyber awareness training helps employees spot red flags, such as strange language, unexpected attachments, or fake CAPTCHAs.
Stay Safe and Don’t Panic
Phishing works because it preys on panic and trust. By staying alert, verifying requests, and using the right tools, you can drastically reduce your risk of falling victim to a phishing attack.
If you do need help, consider reaching out to security experts like The 20 MSP.
At The 20 MSP, we equip our clients with state-of-the-art security, like MFA, encryption, and zero trust policies, while informing them of evolving threats and providing ongoing education and resources like this blog.
Staying safe starts with awareness. If you found this blog helpful, consider sharing it to help others stay safe.
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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 clients’ 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.
