Phishing in 2026 — how to recognize fake emails and messages

"Your account needs to be verified."

"We've detected unusual activity."

Many of us have received messages like these. Some are obvious scam attempts. Others can look highly professional — with the right logo, correct language, and information that makes the message hard to distinguish from a genuine one.

In 2026, the challenge has grown even bigger. Artificial intelligence makes it easier to produce convincing text, translations, images and other forms of communication.

For small businesses, that means one thing:

It's more important than ever to know how to verify a message before you click, pay, or share information.

What is phishing?

Phishing is an attempt to trick you into giving up information or performing an action the attacker wants. That could mean getting you to:

• Provide a username and password
• Approve a login
• Click a malicious link
• Open a dangerous attachment
• Pay a fake invoice
• Transfer money
• Install software
• Share confidential information

The attack can arrive via email, SMS, phone, social media, messaging apps, fake websites, or other digital channels.

Why is phishing so effective?

Phishing is often less about technology and more about human psychology. The message will typically try to create:

Urgency — "You must do this within 24 hours."

Fear — "Your account will be closed."

Curiosity — "See the photos from the event."

Authority — "Message from the bank."

Financial gain — "You've won."

Trust — "Hi, it's the boss. Can you sort this out quickly?"

The goal is to get the recipient to act before they have time to check the message.

1. Look closely at the sender

The first thing to check is who actually sent the message. A message might look like it's from Microsoft, but the sender address could be support@micros0ft-example.com. Or it might look like it's from your postal service, but the address is a completely different domain.

So look at the full email address. Don't just trust the name shown at the top.

2. Be careful with links

A link can look genuine without actually being genuine. Example: "Log in to your account" can look completely legitimate. But the link could lead to a fake website trying to steal your login credentials.

A good rule: don't use the link in the message if you're unsure. Instead, open your browser and type in the service's address yourself, or use a bookmarked official page.

3. Don't let yourself be rushed

This might be the most important advice. If the message says "you must do this now!", you should do the opposite:

Stop → re-read the message → check the sender → verify the information → contact the person or business through a known channel

Urgency is often part of the manipulation.

4. Be extra careful with payments

Small businesses can be especially vulnerable to attempts to get employees to pay fake invoices or change payment details. One example:

"Hi, we've changed bank accounts. Please use the new account for your next payment."

It might look like a normal supplier message. But if the bank account has actually changed, this should be verified.

Call the supplier on a phone number you already know. Don't use the phone number listed in the suspicious message.

5. "The boss" sends a text

A common scenario might be:

"Hi, I'm in a meeting. Can you buy some gift cards and send me the codes?"

The message might appear to come from the CEO. But it could be a scam. This is an example of so-called CEO fraud, where the attacker tries to exploit trust and authority.

Make a simple rule: all unusual payment requests should be verified through a different channel.

6. Never share passwords

A legitimate supplier shouldn't ask you to email your password. Also be cautious if someone asks you for one-time codes, BankID information, security codes, authentication codes, or recovery codes. An attacker can use that information immediately.

7. Fake login pages

One of the most common techniques is creating a website that looks like a well-known service. It can copy the logo, colors, fonts, buttons, login fields, and layout. You might think you're logging into the real service. But your username and password are sent to the attacker.

Don't just trust how a website looks. Check the address in your browser.

8. AI makes fraud harder to detect

In the past, poor language could be a sign of phishing. A message full of typos could be suspicious. That's no longer a reliable indicator.

AI can make it easy to produce fluent language, professional English, convincing messages, personalized outreach, translations, and fake documents.

So don't think: "This is well written, so it must be genuine." Instead, ask: What am I being asked to do? Is this request expected? Can I verify it another way?

9. Deepfakes and voice fraud

Artificial intelligence can also be used to create or manipulate audio and video. That can make it possible to imitate a person's voice, face, or writing style.

For businesses, this means a phone call or video message isn't necessarily sufficient proof of identity if the request involves significant financial or security consequences.

For larger transactions: use established verification routines. For example:

Phone call → verification question → written confirmation → approval

Don't let a single message or phone call be the only check.

10. SMS phishing — "smishing"

Phishing doesn't only happen via email. SMS is used too. This is often called smishing. Examples might be:

• "Your package couldn't be delivered."
• "Pay customs duty here."
• "Your BankID needs to be updated."
• "Your parking fine needs to be paid."
• "You have an unpaid invoice."

Text messages come with an extra challenge: on mobile, it can be harder to see the full link.

Not sure? Don't tap it. Open the relevant service through the official app or website.

11. QR codes can be abused too

QR codes have become a natural part of everyday life. They're used at restaurants, on posters, for payments, at events, on products, and on information signs. But QR codes can also be used to send you to a fake website. So-called quishing is phishing via QR codes.

Don't assume a QR code is safe just because it looks professional.

12. What should you do if you've already clicked?

This is very important: don't panic. But act quickly. If you've clicked a suspicious link:

1. Don't enter any more information.
2. If you've entered a password — change it. Do this from a secure device if you suspect your device is compromised.
3. Enable or check MFA.
4. Contact your IT lead or supplier.
5. Check account activity.
6. If financial information is involved — contact your bank immediately.
7. Document what happened.

The most important thing is to react quickly.

What should you do if an employee has made a mistake?

This is just as important as the technology. If an employee clicks the wrong link, they should be able to speak up immediately. Don't create a culture where employees hide mistakes out of fear of blame.

A good security culture makes it possible to say:

"I think I clicked on something suspicious."

as early as possible. Two minutes after the incident can be far better than two days after.

Make a simple "stop – check – confirm" rule

STOP
Don't click. Don't pay. Don't reply. Don't share information.

CHECK
Who's sending this? What am I being asked to do? Is this expected? Does the link look right?

CONFIRM
Contact the sender through a known channel. Have a colleague look at the message. Call the supplier. Verify payment information.

Only then do you act.

A checklist for employees

Before you click a link or open an attachment:

• Do I know the sender?
• Was I expecting this message?
• Is the email address correct?
• Is the link correct?
• Am I being asked for a password or security code?
• Am I being pressured to act fast?
• Does this involve money?
• Has someone asked me to change an account number?
• Can I verify this request through another channel?

If something feels off: stop.

How your small business can reduce the risk

Technology and routines should be combined. The business should consider:

MFA — on important accounts.
Password manager — for unique passwords.
Email protection — with relevant spam and phishing filters.
Backups — for important data.
Updates — of software and systems.
Access management — employees should only have the access they need.
Training — employees should recognize common scam attempts.
Payment routines — larger or unusual payments should be verified.
Incident plan — everyone should know what to do if something goes wrong.

Security is a shared responsibility

Cybersecurity isn't just the IT department's job. A small business might not even have an IT department. Then security becomes a shared responsibility: the owner, employees, the bookkeeper, the web developer, and suppliers. Everyone with access to the business's digital systems plays a role.

1Fremdrift — security as part of the digital solution

When a business develops a new website or digital solution, security should be part of it from the start. That includes secure login, access management, updates, backups, server configuration, HTTPS, data protection, forms, integrations, and supplier access.

Security shouldn't be something added afterward. It should be built into the solution from the beginning.

At 1Fremdrift, we therefore see websites and digital solutions as more than design and functionality. A good solution should be user-friendly, fast, accessible, maintainable, and secure.

Conclusion

Phishing isn't getting easier to spot any time soon — if anything, artificial intelligence is making it steadily harder to tell a fake message from a genuine one. But most attempts can still be caught with the same simple habits: stop, check the sender, and confirm through a known channel before you click, pay, or share information.

What matters most isn't avoiding being fooled by a message that looks professional. What matters most is having a habit of verifying before you act — and a culture where employees feel safe speaking up the moment something feels wrong.

That's how a small business builds a safer digital everyday life, without needing a large security budget.