The Simply Smarter Blog

Phishing has been around for years, with scammers pretending to be a trusted person or company to steal sensitive information. But the way they target businesses continues to evolve. Today, attackers are not just sending fake emails. They are using QR codes, text messages, phone calls, and even AI-generated voices to steal money, data, and login credentials. According to the 2026 Kaseya Cybersecurity Outlook Report, nearly 70 percent of businesses expect to experience a phishing attack in the next 12 months, which shows just how common and persistent these threats have become. Understanding what these scams look like and how to prevent them is critical, so here are the top five phishing attacks businesses need to watch for in 2026.

Phishing remains one of the most common types of cybercrime according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report.  Cybercriminals took advantage of our state of unrest and found ways to profit from our heightened dependence on technology. With $10.2 billion in profits, internet crime is a lucrative business to be in. As cyber criminals get more savvy in the art of deception, these emails are getting harder to recognize. They are no longer desperate requests for money or a plea from an offshore prince. They are simple messages with a simple objective – to get you to click or respond.

Email is a key that cyber criminals can use to comprise you or your employer’s sensitive data - and bank account. It’s time to for us to treat it as such by analyzing every email received to catch phishing attempts. After practice, it will become second nature. Here are a few tips to follow in order to take back our inboxes.