Phishing: 5 Signs Every Employee Should Recognize (2026)

2026-04-30 · 5 min read

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Phishing is still how most small-business breaches start. The fix is not expensive software — it is teaching your team five signs and giving them a safe way to report. See the full guide on Small Business Cybersecurity, or if you would rather have it handled, IT Cares can run security awareness training for your team.

The 5 signs

1) Urgency or threats (“account will be closed”). 2) A mismatched or look-alike sender address. 3) Links that don’t match the real domain on hover. 4) Unexpected attachments. 5) Requests for passwords, payments or gift cards. Any one is a red flag; two is a stop.

Why people click

Phishing exploits busyness and authority — an email that looks like it’s from the boss or a vendor during a hectic day. Blame-free training works better than scare tactics.

A 20-minute training that sticks

Show real examples, run one simulated phishing test a quarter, and make reporting one click (a “report phish” button). Teams that practise report faster and click less. For an ongoing program, security awareness training keeps it fresh.

FAQ

What are the signs of a phishing email?

Urgency or threats, a mismatched sender address, links that don’t match the real domain on hover, unexpected attachments, and requests for passwords or payments. Any of these is a red flag.

How do I train staff against phishing?

Show real examples, run a simulated phishing test each quarter, and make reporting a single click. Blame-free, repeated practice measurably reduces click rates.

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