Phishing Scams Targeting the UK: What You Need to Know

Phishing attacks are evolving—and UK businesses are in the crosshairs. While consumers still receive their fair share of fake HMRC emails or Royal Mail delivery texts, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting organisations, often with far more costly consequences.

From compromised employee credentials to ransomware deployment and financial fraud, phishing is no longer just an IT problem—it’s a business risk.

In this article, we’ll break down the current phishing landscape in the UK, show how these scams are targeting businesses, and share key steps your company can take to protect its data, people, and reputation.

What Is Phishing in a Business Context?

Phishing is a cyberattack method where attackers impersonate trusted brands or internal stakeholders (like HR or finance departments) to trick users into taking harmful actions—such as:

• Clicking malicious links

• Downloading infected attachments

• Providing login credentials or sensitive data

• Authorising fraudulent payments

Common variants include:

• Email phishing – The most common method, targeting individuals or departments

• Spear phishing – Highly targeted emails that use personal/company-specific details

• Whaling – Attacks aimed at executives or high-level employees

• Smishing and vishing – Phishing via SMS or voice calls

Why UK Businesses Are at Growing Risk

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported over 6.5 million suspicious messages submitted via its Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) in 2024 alone. But B2B phishing attacks go well beyond mass spam—they’re strategic, stealthy, and financially motivated.

Common Business-Focused Phishing Scenarios:

1. CEO Fraud / Business Email Compromise (BEC)
   Attackers impersonate company executives or suppliers, requesting urgent invoice payments or fund transfers.

2. Microsoft 365 Credential Harvesting
   Fake login pages are used to steal credentials, giving hackers access to email, OneDrive, Teams, and internal systems.

3. Supply Chain Attacks
   Cybercriminals spoof partner or vendor email domains to gain trust and deliver malware or fake invoices.

4. Fake HMRC or Financial Authority Emails
   Used to exploit finance departments, these emails prompt employees to submit sensitive data or make payments.

Red Flags Your Employees Should Know

Educating your team is crucial. Watch for:

• Urgent or high-pressure requests (“Pay this invoice now!”)

• Unusual language or tone in emails from familiar contacts

• Requests for sensitive data via email

• Login pages that look ‘almost right’, but with slight domain differences

• Unexpected file attachments, especially .zip, .exe, or .html

How B2B Organisations Can Protect Themselves

Proactive security is the only defence against increasingly sophisticated phishing tactics. Here’s what you should implement:

1. Security Awareness Training

Educate employees regularly on phishing tactics and test them with simulated attacks.

2. Email Security Gateways & Filters

Deploy advanced filtering solutions to catch phishing emails before they reach inboxes.

3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Require MFA for all employees, especially for email, VPN, and cloud accounts.

4. Zero Trust Access Models

Adopt Zero Trust principles—assume breach and verify everything.

5. Incident Response Plans

Create (and rehearse) a response plan for phishing incidents—know who to alert and how to contain threats fast.

Final Thoughts

Phishing isn’t just a consumer problem—it’s a business-critical issue that’s growing in scale and sophistication. For UK B2B companies, the stakes are high: lost data, financial damage, regulatory penalties, and reputational harm.

The good news? With the right mix of employee education, technical controls, and response readiness, your organisation can stay one step ahead.

🔒 Need help strengthening your phishing defences? Consider working with a cybersecurity consultancy or Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) for ongoing protection.