Phishing is a type of online scam where attackers pose as a trusted brand, service, or person to trick someone into sharing sensitive information—like passwords, credit card numbers, or login details. It’s one of the most common and effective forms of cybercrime, and unfortunately, it targets businesses of all sizes.

The name comes from “fishing”—as in baiting a hook and hoping someone bites. And it works. Every day, thousands of business owners, employees, and customers fall for these fake messages that look perfectly legitimate.

How phishing works

Phishing attacks usually happen via:

• Email – The most common form. You receive a message that looks like it’s from your bank, a delivery service, PayPal, or even your own IT department.
• SMS (smishing) – A text message with a link that urges immediate action.
• Phone calls (vishing) – An attacker calls pretending to be tech support, a client, or a provider.
• Fake websites – Often look nearly identical to real login or payment portals.

These messages often include:

• Urgent language (“Your account has been suspended!”)
• A call to action (“Click here to verify your identity”)
• A legitimate-looking logo or sender address
• A fake but convincing link that leads to a malicious site

The goal is always the same: to steal information, gain access to your systems, or trick someone into sending money.

Why phishing matters to your business

Phishing isn’t just a personal risk—it’s a business risk. Small businesses are especially vulnerable because:

• They often don’t have formal IT or cybersecurity training
• One distracted team member can cause a data breach
• Business accounts tend to be more valuable targets (e.g. access to payment systems, client info, website admin)

The consequences of a successful phishing attack can include:

• Website takeover if attacker gains admin credentials
• Financial loss from fraudulent transactions
• Data leaks involving clients, customers, or employees
• Brand damage if phishing emails appear to come from your domain
• Legal liability if sensitive information is compromised

Warning signs of a phishing attempt

Train yourself (and your team) to look out for:

• Unexpected emails asking you to “verify” something
• Slightly misspelled sender domains (e.g. paypaI.com instead of paypal.com)
• Generic greetings like “Dear user”
• Requests for passwords or sensitive data over email
• Links that go to unexpected URLs (hover to preview)

How to protect your business

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on all major accounts
• Use email filters and anti-phishing tools (many hosts and security plugins include this)
• Train your team to recognize red flags
• Never click links or download attachments from unknown senders
• Verify suspicious messages via a second channel (e.g. call the provider directly)
• Secure your own domain to prevent spoofing (using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records)

Bottom line

Phishing is less about “hacking” and more about tricking people. The technology behind it may be simple, but the consequences can be devastating—especially for small business owners without a safety net. Awareness is your first line of defense, and setting up smarter email security is the second.