Social Engineering — Team Training

Phishing Attacks: How Employees Become Victims and How to Train Them

Phishing doesn't attack the system first. It attacks the person who is in a hurry, trusts too easily, and clicks.

April 2026 7 min read IT Doctors
Home / Cybersecurity NIS2 / Phishing Attacks

91% of cyberattacks begin with a single phishing email. Not a server hack — just one action by a person placed under pressure.

Why Phishing Works So Well

Phishing is a scam in which the attacker impersonates a trusted entity to get you to hand over information, click a link, or make a payment. It relies on fear, urgency, authority, and the habit of acting fast.

That is exactly what makes it effective even against experienced employees. When the workday is busy, attention drops and the brain looks for a shortcut rather than a verification step.

Real-world phishing email example

From: noreply@speedy-bg.delivery-info.com

To: accounting@yourcompany.com

Subject: Your parcel could not be delivered — action required

We have a parcel in your name but were unable to deliver it due to an incomplete address. Please confirm your details within the next 24 hours.

Red flags: the domain is fake, the greeting is generic, and there is artificial urgency.

What to Train Your Team to Spot

  • 1
    Suspicious domain
    The address looks genuine but is not the real domain of the organisation.
  • 2
    Artificial urgency
    Phrases like "immediately", "within 24 hours", "you will be blocked" are deliberate pressure tactics.
  • 3
    Non-personalised greeting
    "Dear customer" instead of a name is a common sign of a mass fraud attempt.
  • 4
    Request for a password, payment, or access
    Neither a bank, a courier, nor Microsoft will ever ask for these via an email link.
  • 5
    Mismatched link
    Hover over the link and check what URL is actually hidden beneath it.

How to Train Employees Practically

Simulated Tests

Test phishing campaigns reveal the real level of risk and provide material for follow-up training.

Payment Approval Procedure

Every bank transfer above a threshold is confirmed by phone using a known number.

MFA Everywhere

Even if a password is stolen, the second factor blocks access.

Verify by Phone

When in doubt, the employee does not reply to the email — they call a real, known number instead.

The rule that must stick

If something is urgent, sensitive, and arrives by email, it must be verified via a second channel before any action is taken.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you recognise a phishing email?

The most common warning signs are a suspicious sender, artificial urgency, a generic greeting, and a request for a password, payment, or to click a link.

How do you train a team against phishing?

Simulated phishing tests, a clear payment approval procedure, MFA, and a rule to verify via a second channel when in doubt work best.

Related Cybersecurity Articles

Ransomware: How the Attack WorksPhishing is often the entry point to ransomware. See what happens after the first click. NIS2 Obligations for BusinessStaff training is part of genuine readiness under NIS2 as well. Cybersecurity & NIS2 ServicesAn overview of security measures, audit readiness, and IT Doctors services.

Related Services

Anti-Phishing Training & Security MeasuresPractical training sessions, simulations, and real protective measures for your team. Request a Security ConsultationWe will assess your phishing risk and propose a response and training plan.

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