What to Watch For—and How to Stay One Step Ahead

Phishing has been a threat to businesses for years, but today's scams are getting a serious upgrade. Powered by artificial intelligence, cybercriminals are creating more convincing, personalized, and effective attacks than ever before. And small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), often with leaner IT resources, are especially at risk.

Two increasingly common forms—vishing (voice phishing) and smishing (SMS/text phishing)—are becoming more sophisticated thanks to AI tools that can mimic voices, personalize messages, and evade traditional detection methods.

So, what does this mean for your business? It means awareness and education are no longer optional. They're your first line of defense. Let's break down what's happening—and what you can do about it.

What Are Vishing and Smishing?

• Vishing involves fraudulent phone calls in which attackers impersonate banks, vendors, coworkers, or even executives to trick you into revealing sensitive information or performing a task, like transferring money.
• Smishing uses text messages to do the same thing. The messages often contain urgent requests, links to malicious websites, or prompts to reply with personal data.

Traditionally, these attacks were clumsy and easy to spot. But as these smishing examples show, AI has changed the game.

How AI Is Supercharging the Scams

Cybercriminals are now using AI to:

• Clone voices: AI can now mimic real human voices with alarming accuracy. A scammer can generate a voicemail—or even a live phone call—that sounds like your boss or coworker.
• Personalize messages: With access to public information and data leaks, AI tools can tailor messages with names, job titles, project references, or other details that make the message sound legitimate.
• Automate scale: AI allows for rapid generation of convincing phishing messages, targeting many people simultaneously, while adjusting language and tone based on the recipient.

The result? More businesses are falling for scams that feel all too real.

Signs You're Being Targeted

Even the best scams leave clues. Watch for:

• Urgency or threats: Messages that pressure you to act immediately (e.g., "Your account will be suspended in 1 hour!") are a red flag.
• Requests for sensitive information: Reputable vendors and partners don't ask for passwords, financial info, or login credentials via call or text.
• Strange phone numbers or grammar: Many smishing attempts originate from unusual area codes or use awkward phrasing.
• Unexpected changes in communication: If a "manager" suddenly starts texting you about transferring funds or gift card purchases, verify through a known channel.

How to Protect Your Business

1. Train Your Team

Regularly educate employees about common scams, especially new hires. Include examples of real vishing and smishing attempts. Role-play if necessary. Empower employees to pause and question. The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a great resource for training, insights, and resources. 

2. Implement a Verification Protocol

Establish a clear process for confirming sensitive requests, especially for anything involving payments or credentials. A simple "call them back on a known number" policy can stop a scam in its tracks.

3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Even if a password is compromised via phishing, MFA adds another layer of protection. Enable it wherever possible—for email, banking, CRM systems, and cloud services.

4. Keep Systems Updated

Many phishing scams try to install malware. Ensure all devices, especially employee smartphones, are updated with the latest security patches.

5. Report and Review

Encourage employees to report suspicious messages. Each report is a learning opportunity. Keep a record of incidents and update your training accordingly.

You're Not Too Small to be Targeted

Don't let your size fool you—SMBs are prime targets because attackers assume your defenses are lighter. But your team can become your strongest defense with the right awareness and safeguards.