There has been a noticeable increase in phishing attacks recently, and they are becoming far more convincing than many businesses expect.

These aren’t the obvious scam emails people are used to spotting.

They are designed to look legitimate, often appearing as everyday business communications such as SharePoint or OneDrive file links, document sharing notifications, or attachments from known contacts and suppliers.

At first glance, they look normal. Often from someone you know.

That’s what makes them effective.

Why these attacks are working

Attackers are increasingly using social engineering techniques.

Instead of relying on poor spelling or obvious red flags, they focus on trust.

Emails may appear to come from someone you know, work with, or regularly communicate with. In some cases, they are sent from compromised accounts, making them even harder to detect.

The goal is simple – get the recipient to click a link, open an attachment, or enter login details.

Once that happens, access can be gained quickly.

What to watch out for

Even well-crafted phishing emails often leave small clues.

Common warning signs include:

• Unexpected file sharing links or attachments
• Emails that create urgency, such as “please review” or “urgent document”
• Login pages appearing after clicking a link
• Anything that feels slightly unusual, even if it appears to come from a known contact

That last point is important.

Phishing emails don’t always look wrong. Sometimes they just feel slightly out of place.

Why caution matters now more than ever

The increase in these attacks means that relying on instinct alone is no longer enough.

Even careful teams can be caught out.

All it takes is one click.

That’s why it’s important to treat unexpected emails with caution, regardless of who they appear to come from.

Simple habits can make a significant difference:

• Avoid clicking links or opening attachments unless you are completely confident they are legitimate
• Verify unexpected requests directly with the sender using a known contact method
• Take a moment before acting – especially when an email creates urgency

In conclusion

Phishing attacks are evolving, and they are becoming harder to distinguish from genuine communication.  The key message is simple, trust nothing unless you are certain it is safe.

A cautious approach, combined with basic checks, can prevent a small mistake from becoming a much larger problem.

If there is ever any doubt about an email, it’s always better to stop and verify before taking action.