09/03/2026
TECH TIP OF THE MONTH
That Email Looks Real — And That Is the Problem
Phishing emails used to be easier to spot. Misspelled words, strange formatting, and obvious requests from unfamiliar senders were common warning signs.
Today, a fraudulent email may look just like a normal business conversation.
It can use a familiar company name, professional formatting, a convincing signature, and language that sounds completely reasonable. Some attacks even impersonate executives, coworkers, vendors, or financial institutions and create urgency around a payment or account change.
That means “it looks legitimate” is no longer enough.
Be especially cautious when an email asks you to:
Change a vendor’s banking or payment information
Reset a password or sign in through a link
Share sensitive employee, customer, or financial information
Make an urgent account change
The most important step is also one of the simplest:
Verify the request using a separate communication method.
If a vendor emails you with new banking instructions, call them using the phone number you already have on file. If your manager sends an unusual payment request, confirm it by phone, in person, or through another trusted channel.
Do not simply reply to the original email. If the sender’s account has been compromised, you may still be communicating with the attacker.
A two-minute verification can prevent a much larger problem.
This Month’s Action
Before approving a payment, banking change, or sensitive account request, make it a standard practice to verify the request through a second, trusted communication method.
Something look suspicious? Forward the message to your IT provider before clicking a link, opening an attachment, replying, or taking action.
