How to Recognize a Spear Phishing Attack

Introduction: Not All Phishing Emails Are Created Equal

We all know what basic phishing looks like:
Nigerian princes, fake delivery notices, or “Click here to claim your prize!”

But spear phishing is different.
It’s smarter.
It’s personal.
And it’s one of the fastest-growing threats to small businesses today.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through what spear phishing is, how it works, and how to spot one before it costs you time, trust, or money.

What is Spear Phishing?

Spear phishing is a targeted email attack where cybercriminals impersonate someone you trust — a colleague, client, supplier, or even your boss — to trick you into doing something harmful.

Unlike broad phishing scams, spear phishing is tailored to you.
It uses personal details, familiar names, and insider knowledge to disarm you.

Common Goals of Spear Phishing Attacks

• Get you to transfer money to a fake account

• Trick you into clicking a malicious link

• Steal your login details

• Install spyware or ransomware

• Gain access to internal systems or sensitive files

What Makes Spear Phishing So Effective?

1. Research

Attackers often gather info from LinkedIn, your website, social media, or past leaks. They know who you report to, who your suppliers are, or what software you use.

2. Timing

They send messages during busy times — Friday afternoons, school holidays, or big deadlines — when you’re less focused.

3. Pressure

They use urgency, authority, or guilt to push fast action:

“Can you send this now? I’m tied up but it’s urgent.”
“We’ll lose the client if this doesn’t go out today.”

Real Example: The “Director” Who Needed a Transfer

A client of ours received a message from their managing director… or so it seemed.

The email address was one letter off.
The tone was spot on.
The signature looked real.

It asked for a payment to be sent urgently while the director was “in a board meeting.”
The request was for £6,750.

Luckily, the finance assistant paused and picked up the phone.
The director had sent no such email.

No money lost — but it was close.
Too close.

7 Warning Signs You’re Being Spear Phished

1. The message feels too urgent or emotionally charged

2. It’s from a familiar name — but the email address is slightly off

3. The request is out of the ordinary (e.g. a new payment method or document access)

4. The sender is unavailable to speak (“in meetings,” “traveling,” etc.)

5. You're asked to bypass normal procedures

6. It comes at a strange time (evenings, weekends, bank holidays)

7. It contains small errors in grammar, formatting, or punctuation

How to Protect Yourself and Your Business

1. Train Your Team to Pause and Question

Teach staff to trust their instincts.
If something feels off — it probably is.

2. Verify By Phone or In-Person

Before approving unusual requests, confirm them with a quick call.

3. Use Strong Email Filtering Tools

Modern filters can flag spoofed senders, suspicious domains, and malware links.

4. Deploy Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Even if login details are stolen, MFA adds an extra layer of protection.

5. Monitor Forwarding Rules and Login Locations

Spear phishing is often used to get inside an account — and silently monitor for bigger opportunities.

6. Limit Financial Permissions

Only allow a few verified people to handle payments — and require dual sign-off for new payees.

7. Review Supplier and Client Communications

Encourage partners to secure their systems too — if they get breached, you can be targeted.

What to Do If You Suspect a Spear Phishing Attempt

1. Do not reply

2. Do not click any links or download attachments

3. Forward the message to your IT/security team (or to us)

4. Call the person being impersonated to verify

5. Report it as phishing in your email client