HR Email Spoofing: How Scammers Are Using HR to Breach Your Organization

What is HR email spoofing?

HR email spoofing occurs when a cybercriminal impersonates your company’s HR department to trick employees into clicking malicious links, downloading files, or joining fake meetings. Because HR is seen as authoritative, employees tend to engage quickly — and that’s exactly what scammers are counting on. If you received an email from Chris in HR requesting a meeting, wouldn’t you be inclined to join?

Why is HR the ultimate spoofing tool?

According to a recent report, “the most deceptive email subjects users click in phishing simulations, indicating HR and IT-related emails account for over 60% of top-clicked phishing emails.” Because HR touches every employee and job candidate, it’s the perfect disguise for attackers. Examples of how scammers mimic real HR scenarios that feel legitimate and urgent include:

• Important: Dress code changes
• Your training is past due
• Invitation: Quarterly financial performance review
• You’ve been assigned additional cybersecurity training
• You’ve been selected to interview

These subject lines don’t just look official — they feel routine, which lowers employees’ guard. Once the target clicks the link or joins the fake meeting, the hacker gains access to sensitive information or the company network. By blending familiar business processes with a sense of urgency, scammers make their messages nearly indistinguishable from legitimate HR communication. That’s why HR spoofing has become one of the most dangerous phishing tactics today.

A real-world example from our own HR team

Recently, scammers attempted to impersonate our HR department by sending fraudulent job interview invitations that appeared to come from Nellie, one of our HR leaders (name changed to protect the innocent 😊). The emails used her name and address to add credibility, but they were fake.

Nellie was quick to clarify the situation and share best practices:

• She never sends interview links by email before first speaking directly with candidates by phone.
• If anyone receives a suspicious message that looks like it’s from her, they should disregard it and contact her directly to confirm its authenticity.
• She posted a message on LinkedIn to alert job seekers in her network — a smart move since many candidates are connected with her there and could see the warning.

Best practice takeaway: Use every available channel — including LinkedIn, internal email, or company intranet — to notify employees and candidates about spoofing attempts. Sharing clear “this is how we do it” guidance (like Nellie’s policy of always calling first) helps people know what to expect and spot red flags.

Additional ways HR can help prevent phishing attacks

1. Work closely with IT. HR is often the first and last point of contact for employees, which gives them a unique role in fostering a strong security culture. Joint planning between HR and IT can:

• Tailor engaging, relevant scam awareness training.
• Integrate cybersecurity practices into onboarding for new hires.
• Ensure advanced training aligns with job roles, high-risk departments, and company policies.

2. Educate employees with context. Generic reminders don’t stick—but personal stories do. HR can make training more engaging by:

• Sharing real-world scam examples that have targeted HR departments in similar companies. (For instance, fake “benefits enrollment” links or “urgent payroll updates.”)
• Explaining the personal consequences of falling for scams, such as stolen W-2s or compromised direct deposits, so employees understand this isn’t just about company data, it’s about their identity and paycheck.
• Using interactive formats like role-playing a phishing attempt during training sessions to make the experience memorable.

3. Make reporting easy. Employees are more likely to act if reporting feels quick and judgment-free.

• Making the reporting process as simple as clicking a button in the email client.
• Normalizing the behavior by including reminders in regular HR communications, just like dress code or PTO policies.
• Designating a cybersecurity point of contact (especially at smaller companies without a full IT staff) so employees know exactly who to turn to.

HR email spoofing is a rising threat because it leverages trust and authority. By working hand-in-hand with IT, educating employees through relatable examples, and making it easy to report suspicious activity, HR can shift from being a target to being a frontline defender of the organization and its people. If you’d like help building that culture of awareness, our Managed IT Services experts specialize in employee training and best practices.