Avoiding Phishing Attacks: Train Your Staff to Spot Red Flags

Your IT systems are only as strong as your weakest link—and in most wholesale businesses, that link is human. One wrong click on a fake email and your entire system could be compromised.

Phishing attacks are getting smarter, more targeted, and harder to spot. Hackers aren’t trying to break down your firewall—they’re trying to trick someone on your team into letting them in.

That’s why training staff to spot red flags isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Here’s what every employee should know:

✔ Check the sender’s email address – Not just the name. If something looks slightly off, it probably is.
✔ Never click links in unexpected emails – Especially if they’re asking you to log in or “confirm” information.
✔ Watch for urgent language – “Act now” or “Your account will be suspended” are common tactics to pressure quick clicks.
✔ Don’t download unknown attachments – Even if it looks like an invoice or delivery note.
✔ When in doubt, ask – One minute checking with IT is better than days recovering from an attack.

💡 Run regular tests to identiy staff who need more training. There are tools available which will allow you to send fake phishing emails to your team and then track the results.

📌 Teach your team to pause before they click. It could save your entire business.