Beware: Is that Microsoft... or a phishing attempt?

imagemarkmarketing
Jul 30
3 min read

Person in yellow shirt holds blue sign with "Is that really Microsoft?" expression, red background, surprised eyes.

When you get an email from Microsoft, you probably don’t think twice about opening it.

After all, it’s Microsoft — one of the most trusted names in tech.

But what if that email isn’t from Microsoft?

Trusted Brands Are Prime Targets

Cybercriminals love to impersonate familiar companies, and Microsoft is the #1 most impersonated brand in phishing scams right now.

Recent data shows that 36% of brand-related phishing attempts in early 2025 were pretending to be Microsoft. That’s more than one in three. Google and Apple follow closely behind, making up over half of all phishing scams together.

Why? Because trust is a powerful tool — and scammers use it against you.

What’s a Phishing Attempt?

A phishing attempt is a fake message — often by email or text — that looks like it’s from a legitimate source. The goal is to get you to:

Click a malicious link
Download an infected attachment
Enter sensitive info like passwords or credit card details

The results can be severe: stolen data, financial loss, and major business disruption.

Modern Phishing Looks Legit

Today’s phishing emails are slick. Scammers copy logos, match fonts, and even spoof real email addresses. They set up fake websites that look identical to the real thing.

Even Mastercard has seen an increase in copycat scams recently — and it’s not just happening to big corporations. Small businesses are being targeted more than ever.

Spot the Red Flags

So how can you tell if that Microsoft email is real — or a phishing attempt?

Urgency or Threats
Scare tactics like “Click now or your account will be locked” are a huge red flag. Real companies don’t operate that way.
Strange Email Addresses
Look closely. “micros0ft.com” is not “microsoft.com.” That one letter can make all the difference.
Unexpected Attachments or Links
If it’s not something you were expecting, don’t click. Instead, open your browser and go to the company’s website manually.
Slightly Off Formatting or Language
Even the most polished scams may have tiny errors or awkward phrasing. If something feels off, it probably is.

What You Can Do to Stay Safe

Phishing attacks are getting smarter. The best way to protect your business is through a layered approach:

Train your team to spot and report suspicious messages
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all major systems
Keep software and security tools up to date
Implement strong email filtering
Regularly test your defenses with simulated phishing attempts

Don’t wait until after an incident to take action.

AI Is Supercharging Phishing Scams

Attackers are now using AI to craft even more realistic messages — personalized and targeted at scale. That means your staff needs to be more alert than ever.

Ongoing training and support are essential. So is knowing what protections are already in place — and what’s missing.

Know Before You Click

Remember: the more trusted a brand, the more likely it is to be impersonated. And Microsoft tops the list.

If you’re not confident your team can spot a phishing attempt — or your systems aren’t as secure as they should be — now’s the time to take action.

Protect Your Business with Confidence

Elite Technology Solutions Group can help you evaluate your cybersecurity setup, train your staff, and put stronger protections in place before a phishing attempt puts your business at risk.