How to Report Scam Emails: Identify, Report, and Avoid Phishing in 2026

Every day, an estimated 3.4 billion phishing messages land in inboxes around the world. That means several of those deceptive emails have almost certainly reached you or someone on your team already. Phishing remains the single most prevalent type of cybercrime in the United States, and it is the leading cause of data breaches globally, with IBM reporting that 15% of all breaches stem directly from phishing attacks.

As a Chicago managed IT services company, we see the aftermath of these scams every week. A single click on a malicious link or a single response to a suspicious message can expose your organization to stolen credentials, ransomware, financial fraud, and lasting reputational damage, and for businesses the consequences can be existential.

The good news is that phishing is a problem you can fight back against. Whether you received a phishing email, a scam, or a suspicious message you can’t quite explain, this guide walks you through exactly how to identify it, where to report it, and what to do next:

Table of Contents

• What Is Phishing and Why Is It So Dangerous?
• Types of Phishing Attacks Every Business Should Recognize in 2026
• How to Identify a Phishing Email: The S.E.C.U.R.E. Method
• What to Do When You Receive a Suspicious Email
• Where and How to Report Phishing Emails: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Report Phishing in Your Email App
• How to Report Scam Emails
• How to Report a Scammer’s Email Address
• How to Report Fraudulent Emails
• How to Report Threatening or Extortion Emails
• Spam vs. Phishing: What’s the Difference and How to Report Each
• What to Do If You Click on a Phishing Link or Provide Information
• Building a Phishing-Resistant Organization
• Technical Defenses That Protect Against Phishing
• Frequently Asked Questions About Reporting Phishing
• Protect Your Business from Phishing Attacks in 2026

What Is Phishing and Why Is It So Dangerous?

Phishing is a form of social engineering in which scammers impersonate a reputable organization or trusted person to trick you into revealing sensitive data such as account credentials, passwords, Social Security numbers, or credit card details. These messages may even appear to come from a friend or colleague, making them especially deceptive. The attack typically arrives as an email, but phishing messages can also come through text messages (known as smishing), phone calls (vishing), social media platforms, or even fake website pop-ups.

For a phishing attempt to succeed, it requires an action on the part of the victim. That action might be clicking a link that installs malware on your computer, downloading a malicious attachment, or entering your login details on a spoofed page. Once the attacker has what they need, the consequences cascade quickly: stolen credentials lead to account takeovers, unauthorized purchases, identity theft, and access to your broader company network.

For example, a common phishing email might pretend to be from your bank, asking you to verify your account information by clicking a link that leads to a fake login page. For a deeper look at how hackers exploit email systems specifically, see our guide on how hackers infiltrate your business using email.

A phishing attack on a business can freeze company systems, expose proprietary data, and result in devastating financial loss. According to Proofpoint’s 2023 State of the Phish report, 84% of organizations reported falling victim to an email-based phishing attack in 2022, and more than half dealt with multiple successful attacks. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that business email compromise (BEC) attacks alone accounted for nearly $2.9 billion in losses in 2023.

Types of Phishing Attacks Every Business Should Recognize in 2026

Phishing has evolved far beyond the obvious scam emails of the early 2000s. In 2026, cybercriminals use advanced AI tools, deepfake voice technology, and detailed personal information scraped from social media to craft attacks that can fool even experienced users. Understanding the different forms will help you and your employees identify threats no matter how they arrive.

Email phishing is the most common form. Attackers send messages that mimic trusted sources like your bank, a vendor, or even a colleague, and direct you to a fake website or ask you to download an attachment. These emails often create a sense of urgency, claiming there is a problem with your account or requesting immediate payment.

Spear phishing targets a specific person or organization using publicly available information like job titles, company details, or recent transactions to make the message highly convincing. Unlike broad phishing campaigns, spear phishing emails reference things only a legitimate contact would know.

Business email compromise (BEC) involves an attacker compromising or spoofing an executive’s email account to send fraudulent requests, usually demanding urgent financial transactions or sensitive data from employees. These attacks bypass many traditional security measures because they appear to come from inside the organization.

Smishing (SMS phishing) uses text messages instead of email. According to Keepnet Labs, smishing attacks surged over 328% in 2020 alone, and 76% of businesses reported facing them. In 2026, smishing scams have become even more sophisticated with QR code phishing attacks leading recipients to malicious sites.

Common smishing scams include:

• Fake delivery notifications
• Phony customer support alerts
• Gift card promotions
• Fraudulent bank verification requests

The link in a smishing text either installs malware on your phone or redirects you to a malicious site designed to steal your information.

Vishing (voice phishing) uses phone calls to manipulate targets. The caller may pose as tech support, a government agency, or your bank, pressuring you to share account details, confirm a password, or make a payment over the phone. AI-generated voice cloning makes this particularly dangerous in 2026, as scammers can now convincingly impersonate executives or family members.

Domain spoofing and pop-up phishing round out the toolkit. Spoofing involves forging an email address or creating a fake website that looks identical to a legitimate site. Pop-up phishing uses fake notifications on compromised websites to trick you into entering personal details. In every case, the attacker’s goal is the same: get you to act before you think.

How to Identify a Phishing Email: The S.E.C.U.R.E. Method

With phishing messages in 2026 becoming more sophisticated—especially with AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude helping scammers craft polished, error-free copy—you need a systematic approach to evaluate every suspicious email. The S.E.C.U.R.E. method gives you and your team a simple, memorable framework to use every time something feels off.

S – Start with the Subject Line. Is it unusual? Excessive forwarding markers like “FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately” or alarming claims like “Your account has been compromised” are classic red flags. Legitimate companies rarely use panic-inducing subject lines.

E – Examine the Email Address. Do you recognize the sender? Look closely at the actual email address, not just the display name. Scammers often use addresses that are one character off from the real thing, like sallystrom@gmail.com instead of sallystorm@gmail.com. Hover over the sender’s name to reveal the true address.

C – Consider the Greeting. A generic salutation like “Dear Customer” or “Hello Ma’am” should immediately raise suspicion. If a company you do business with has your account information, they will typically address you by name.

U – Unpack the Message. Is there extreme urgency pushing you to click a link, download an attachment, or respond with personal details? Scammers manufacture urgency to bypass your rational thinking. If someone genuinely needed something urgently, they would likely contact you by phone. Our guide on social engineering and human error explains how attackers exploit these psychological triggers.

R – Review for Errors. Grammatical mistakes, odd misspellings, and awkward phrasing can signal a phishing attempt. Note that AI-generated phishing has reduced this tell in recent years, so do not rely on errors alone. But a message from a reputable organization should still read professionally.

E – Evaluate Links and Attachments. Never click links or download files from unexpected emails. Hover over any link without clicking to see where it really leads. If the URL looks suspicious, misspelled, or unfamiliar, do not proceed. Legitimate organizations will not ask you to download attachments from unsolicited messages.

When in doubt, reach out to the supposed sender through a separate communication channel you control. Call their verified phone number or navigate to their website directly in your browser rather than using any links in the email.

What to Do When You Receive a Suspicious Email

If you have received an email that looks suspicious — whether it seems like a phishing attempt, a scam, or just something that does not feel right — here is exactly what to do:

1. Do not click any links, download any attachments, or reply. Even clicking “unsubscribe” in a scam email can confirm your address is active and invite more attacks.
2. Do not provide personal information. Legitimate organizations will never ask you to share passwords, Social Security numbers, or financial details by email.
3. Verify the sender independently. If the email claims to be from your bank, a vendor, or a colleague, contact them directly using a phone number or website you already trust — not the contact information in the suspicious email.
4. Report the email. Use the reporting steps in the sections below. Reporting takes a few seconds and helps protect other people from the same attack.
5. Delete the email. After reporting, remove it from your inbox and your trash folder.

If you are not sure whether an email is phishing or just spam, report it anyway. It is always better to report something that turns out to be harmless than to ignore something that turns out to be dangerous.

Where and How to Report Phishing Emails: Step-by-Step Guide

Reporting phishing attempts helps protect not just your organization but the broader community. Every report contributes to tracking campaigns, identifying threat actors, and shutting down malicious infrastructure.

When submitting your report, be sure to include:

• The original email (with headers, if possible)
• Any attachments or links from the email
• Any actions you took (clicked, replied, provided information)
• A description of what happened, including the timeline and any responses you sent

Quick Reference: Where to Forward Phishing and Scam Emails

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC uses phishing reports to track scams and bring cases against fraudsters.

How to report:

1. Forward the phishing email to reportphishing@apwg.org
2. Forward the same message to spam@uce.gov
3. You can also file a complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG)

The APWG is a global coalition fighting phishing and cybercrime. They analyze reports to identify trends and coordinate takedown efforts. When you forward a phishing email to reportphishing@apwg.org, the APWG’s systems analyze the message to identify the malicious infrastructure behind the attack — the fake websites, the hosting providers, the domains. This data feeds into a global threat intelligence network that helps email providers, browsers, and security tools block similar attacks faster. Your single forwarded email genuinely contributes to shutting down phishing campaigns that could otherwise reach thousands of additional targets.

How to report:

• Forward the phishing email to reportphishing@apwg.org
• Include the full email header if possible (in Gmail: open the email → three dots → “Show original”)

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

The FBI’s IC3 collects reports of internet crime, including phishing, business email compromise, and ransomware. IC3 collaborates with law enforcement partners to investigate these crimes and track cybercrime trends.

How to report:

• Visit IC3.gov
• Complete the online complaint form
• Include as much detail as possible: sender information, message content, any financial losses

Report Phishing Impersonating Specific Companies

If the phishing email impersonates a legitimate company, report it directly to that organization:

• Microsoft: Forward to phish@office365.microsoft.com
• Google: Forward to reportphishing@google.com
• Apple: Forward to reportphishing@apple.com
• Amazon: Forward to stop-spoofing@amazon.com
• PayPal: Forward to phishing@paypal.com

Most major companies have dedicated phishing reporting addresses. Check their official website for instructions.

Report SMS Phishing (Smishing)

If you receive a phishing text message:

1. Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) on most U.S. carriers
2. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
3. Delete the message after reporting

What to Include in Your Report

When reporting phishing, provide:

• The full email or message (do not just describe it — forward the entire thing)
• The sender’s email address or phone number
• Any links or attachments (do not click them)
• The date and time you received it
• Any actions you took (clicked, replied, provided information)

The more detail you provide, the more effective the investigation and response.

How to Report Phishing in Your Email App

Most email platforms have built-in tools to report phishing directly from your inbox. Using these tools does two things: it flags the message for the email provider’s security team, and it helps train the spam and phishing filters that protect every other user on that platform.

Gmail

1. Open the suspicious email (do not click any links inside it)
2. Click the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the message
3. Select “Report phishing” from the dropdown menu
4. Confirm when prompted

Gmail will move the email to spam and send a copy to Google for analysis. You can also forward the email to reportphishing@google.com for additional reporting.

Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft 365

1. Select the suspicious email in your inbox
2. Click the “Report” button in the ribbon (or right-click the message)
3. Choose “Report phishing”
4. The message will be forwarded to Microsoft and removed from your inbox

In Outlook on the web, click the three dots next to the message, then select Report → Report phishing. You can also forward phishing emails that impersonate Microsoft to phish@office365.microsoft.com.

Yahoo Mail

1. Open the suspicious email
2. Click the three dots (More) next to the reply button
3. Select “Report phishing scam”

Yahoo will analyze the message and update its filters accordingly.

Apple Mail (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

Apple Mail does not have a dedicated “report phishing” button. Instead:

1. Forward the email to reportphishing@apple.com if the message impersonates Apple
2. For other phishing emails, forward to reportphishing@apwg.org
3. Mark the message as junk by moving it to your Junk folder or clicking “Move to Junk”

On iPhone or iPad, you can also tap the sender’s name, then tap it again at the top of the message, and select “Block this Contact” to prevent future messages from that address.

How to Report Scam Emails

Not every malicious email looks like a textbook phishing attack. Scam emails come in many forms — fake invoices, bogus prize notifications, romance scams, advance-fee fraud, impersonation of government agencies, or fraudulent business proposals. You might not think of the message as “phishing,” but the reporting process is the same.

If you received a scam email, here is what to do:

1. Do not reply, click any links, or send money. This applies even if the email threatens consequences for ignoring it.
2. Forward the email to reportphishing@apwg.org. The APWG tracks scam emails alongside phishing emails and feeds the data into global threat intelligence.
3. Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC collects scam reports and uses them to build enforcement cases. Your report helps the FTC identify patterns and pursue the people behind these operations.
4. Report to your email provider using the built-in reporting tools described in the section above.
5. If you lost money or shared financial information, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Then file a report with the FBI’s IC3.

The key thing to remember: whether you call it a scam email, a fraudulent email, or a phishing email, the reporting channels are the same. Report it, and move on.

How to Report a Scammer’s Email Address

Sometimes the goal is not just to report a single email but to flag an email address that is being used repeatedly for scams, phishing, or harassment. Maybe you have received multiple messages from the same address, or you want to make sure the address itself gets flagged and investigated.

Here is how to report a specific email address as a scammer:

1. Report to the email provider. If the scammer is using a Gmail address, you can report the account through Google’s abuse reporting page. For Outlook/Hotmail addresses, report through Microsoft’s abuse reporting. For Yahoo, use their abuse reporting form. Each provider can investigate the account and shut it down if it violates their terms of service.
2. Forward examples of the scam emails from that address to reportphishing@apwg.org. Include as many messages as you have — the pattern of behavior helps investigators.
3. File a report with the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov if the email address was used for financial fraud, extortion, or any other crime.
4. Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to add the email address to the federal fraud database.

Can you get a scammer’s email address shut down? Yes, but it depends on the email provider and the strength of the evidence. Providers like Google and Microsoft have dedicated abuse teams that review reports and can suspend accounts. Filing reports with multiple agencies increases the chances the address gets flagged and blocked across platforms.

How to Report Fraudulent Emails

Fraudulent emails are scam emails that specifically involve financial deception — fake invoices, phony wire transfer requests, forged payment confirmations, or messages impersonating your bank or a vendor to steal money or financial information. You might hear these called email fraud, business email compromise, or invoice fraud.

If you received a fraudulent email:

1. Forward the email to reportphishing@apwg.org and spam@uce.gov.
2. Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
3. File a complaint with the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov, especially if the email involves a wire transfer request, invoice manipulation, or business email compromise.
4. Contact your bank or financial institution immediately if you or anyone in your organization acted on the email — even partially. Banks can sometimes reverse transactions or freeze accounts to prevent further losses.
5. Notify your company’s IT team or managed service provider. Business email compromise attacks often signal that an email account within your organization has been compromised, which means the attacker may still have access.

For a deeper look at how hackers use compromised email accounts to target businesses, see our guide on whether someone can hack your email without your password.

How to Report Threatening or Extortion Emails

Threatening emails and extortion emails are a step beyond typical phishing. These messages might claim to have compromising photos or videos of you, threaten to release sensitive data, demand payment in cryptocurrency, or threaten violence against you or your business. They are designed to frighten you into paying — and most of the time, the threats are empty.

If you receive a threatening or extortion email:

1. Do not respond and do not pay. The vast majority of email extortion threats are bluffs. Paying only confirms that you are a responsive target and invites more demands.
2. Screenshot and save the email. Preserve the full message, including the sender’s email address, any cryptocurrency wallet addresses, and the complete email header.
3. Report to the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov. Email extortion is a federal crime. IC3 is the primary agency that tracks and investigates these cases.
4. Contact local law enforcement if the email contains specific threats of violence or references information that suggests the sender knows personal details about you.
5. Forward the email to reportphishing@apwg.org so it can be tracked as part of broader extortion campaigns.
6. Notify your IT team or managed service provider if the email was sent to a work address, particularly if it claims to have accessed your organization’s data.

Most email extortion campaigns are mass-produced — the same threat is sent to thousands of people using leaked email lists. The “proof” they claim to have usually does not exist. But report it regardless, because the data helps law enforcement track these operations and shut them down.

Spam vs. Phishing: What’s the Difference and How to Report Each

Spam and phishing are not the same thing, even though they both clog your inbox.

Spam is unwanted bulk email — unsolicited marketing, newsletters you never signed up for, or promotional messages from companies you have never done business with. Spam is annoying, but it is usually not trying to steal your data or install malware. It is the digital equivalent of junk mail in your physical mailbox.

Phishing is a targeted attempt to trick you into giving up sensitive information or clicking a malicious link. Phishing emails impersonate trusted organizations, create urgency, and have a specific goal: get your credentials, install malware, or steal your money.

The reporting paths are slightly different:

To report spam:

• Mark the email as spam or junk in your email app (this trains the filter)
• Forward it to spam@uce.gov (FTC’s spam database)
• Forward phishing text messages to 7726 (SPAM)

To report phishing:

• Forward to reportphishing@apwg.org
• Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Use your email app’s “Report phishing” tool
• File with the FBI’s IC3 if financial loss or identity theft is involved

If you are not sure whether a message is spam or phishing, report it as phishing. It is better to over-report than to let a phishing email slip through.

What to Do If You Click on a Phishing Link or Provide Information

If you suspect you have fallen for a phishing scam, act immediately. Fast response limits damage.

1. Change your passwords immediately. Though some hackers may not even need your password to find a way in, start with the account or system you believe was compromised, then change passwords for any accounts that share the same or similar credentials. Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
2. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). If you have not already, turn on MFA for every account that supports it. Use an authenticator app or hardware security key rather than SMS-based codes, which can be intercepted.
3. Contact the affected institution. If you entered banking details, credit card numbers, or other financial information, contact your bank or card issuer right away. They can freeze your account, reverse unauthorized transactions, and issue new credentials.
4. Monitor your accounts. Watch for unusual activity across your email, financial accounts, and any linked online services. Set up alerts where available so you are notified of logins from unfamiliar devices or locations. Consider enrolling in dark web monitoring to see if your credentials have been compromised and sold on criminal marketplaces.
5. Run a full security scan. Use up-to-date antivirus software to scan your computer and mobile devices for malware that may have been installed when you clicked a link or opened an attachment.
6. Consider a credit freeze. If your Social Security number or other identity data may have been stolen, contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to place a fraud alert or credit freeze. This prevents criminals from opening new accounts in your name.
7. Report the incident. Follow the reporting steps in the previous sections and also notify your employer’s IT team if a work account was involved.

Building a Phishing-Resistant Organization

Technology alone cannot stop phishing. According to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, human error accounts for 74% of all data breaches, and every organization is only as secure as its least-prepared employee. A strong defense requires combining employee awareness with the right tools and processes.

Security Awareness Training

Regular training is the foundation. Employees need to understand what phishing looks like, how social engineering tactics work, and what steps to take when they spot a suspicious email. Training should be ongoing, not a one-time event, because phishing tactics evolve constantly.

Essential training topics include:

• Identifying phishing red flags
• Recognizing spoofed addresses and domains
• Handling unexpected attachments safely
• Verifying unusual requests through a separate communication channel

Our article on employee training and cybersecurity awareness covers how to build a security-first culture from the ground up.

Phishing Simulation Testing

One of the most effective ways to reinforce training is through phishing simulations. These are controlled exercises where your IT team or a managed service provider sends realistic but harmless fake phishing emails to your employees.

Simulations provide:

• Practical experience in a safe environment
• Visibility into which individuals or departments need additional guidance
• Measurable improvement in threat recognition and reporting

Organizations that run regular simulations consistently sharpen their employees’ ability to spot and report real threats, which directly reduces the likelihood of a successful attack.

Establish Clear Reporting Protocols

Make sure every person in your organization knows exactly what to do when they receive a suspicious message. A simple internal process, such as forwarding suspicious emails to a dedicated security alias and notifying a manager, removes ambiguity and ensures threats are flagged quickly. When reporting is easy and encouraged, employees are more likely to speak up rather than second-guess themselves or quietly delete a suspicious email.

Technical Defenses That Protect Against Phishing

While employee awareness is your first line of defense, the right technical controls significantly reduce the number of phishing messages that ever reach an inbox in the first place.

• Spam and email filters. Google reports that modern spam filters now achieve up to 99.9% accuracy, blocking the vast majority of malicious emails before users ever see them. Make sure your organization’s email filtering is enabled and properly configured.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA). Requiring a second form of verification, such as an authenticator app or biometric scan, blocks unauthorized access even if a password is stolen. MFA should be enabled on every account across your organization.
• Email authentication protocols. Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records on your domain verifies the legitimacy of outgoing email and makes it much harder for attackers to spoof your organization’s email address.
• Antivirus and endpoint protection. Keep antivirus software current on all devices. Scan email attachments automatically before they can be downloaded or opened. Endpoint detection tools can catch malware that slips past email filters.
• Firewalls and web filtering. A properly configured firewall creates a barrier between your internal network and external threats, monitoring incoming traffic and blocking known malicious sites.
• Regular software updates and patching. Outdated software and legacy email platforms are prime targets for exploitation. Keeping operating systems, email clients, and security tools up to date closes known vulnerabilities that attackers rely on. See our guide on why software updates matter for more details.
• Email encryption. Encrypting your email communications protects messages from being intercepted by unauthorized parties. Many providers like Gmail offer encryption options, but you may need to enable them manually.

No single tool provides complete protection. The most effective approach layers multiple defenses together so that if one fails, the next catches the threat. For a broader look at how these protections fit into your overall security posture, see our guide to cybersecurity best practices for SMBs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reporting Phishing

What does “report phishing” mean? Reporting phishing means notifying an authority — your email provider, a government agency like the FTC or FBI, or an organization like the APWG — that you received a deceptive email designed to steal information or money. When you report, you forward the suspicious message so it can be analyzed, the malicious infrastructure can be taken down, and email filters can be updated to block similar attacks.

What should I do if I receive a phishing email? Do not click any links, download any attachments, or reply. Verify the sender through a separate channel you trust, then report the email by forwarding it to reportphishing@apwg.org and using your email app’s built-in “Report phishing” button. Delete the email after reporting.

Does reporting phishing actually do anything? Yes. Every report contributes to a global database that security researchers, email providers, and law enforcement use to identify and dismantle phishing campaigns. Reports lead to fraudulent websites being taken down, malicious email addresses being blocked, and criminal investigations being opened. The APWG tracks over a million phishing attacks per quarter and coordinates takedowns worldwide.

What is the difference between spam and phishing? Spam is unwanted bulk email — annoying but usually not dangerous. Phishing is a targeted attack designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information or clicking a malicious link. Spam goes to your junk folder; phishing can cost you your identity or your business. Report spam by marking it as junk and forwarding to spam@uce.gov. Report phishing by forwarding to reportphishing@apwg.org and filing at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Can I report an email address for scamming? Yes. Report the email address to the email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) through their abuse reporting pages. Also forward examples of the scam emails to reportphishing@apwg.org and file a report with the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov. Email providers can investigate and shut down accounts that violate their terms of service.

How do I report a threatening or extortion email? Do not respond and do not pay. Screenshot and save the complete message. File a complaint with the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov, contact local law enforcement if the threat is specific, and forward the email to reportphishing@apwg.org. Most email extortion threats are bluffs sent in bulk using leaked email lists.

What should I include when reporting a phishing email? Include the full email (forward it, do not just describe it), the sender’s email address, any links or attachments (do not click them), the date and time you received it, and any actions you took in response. If possible, include the full email header — in Gmail, click the three dots and select “Show original.”

Why should I report phishing instead of just deleting it? Reporting helps everyone. When you report a phishing email, you contribute data that helps email providers improve their filters, helps security teams take down malicious websites, and helps law enforcement build cases against cybercriminals. Deleting protects you; reporting protects thousands of other potential victims.

Where do I forward phishing emails? Forward phishing emails to reportphishing@apwg.org — this is the primary global reporting address. You can also forward to spam@uce.gov (FTC) and to the impersonated company’s abuse address if applicable. For phishing text messages, forward to 7726 (SPAM).

Protect Your Business from Phishing Attacks in 2026

Phishing scams will continue to evolve, but you do not have to face them alone. A managed IT service provider brings the expertise, advanced threat detection tools, and proactive monitoring needed to stay ahead of emerging attacks in 2026 and beyond. From employee training programs and phishing simulations to multi-layered email security and dark web monitoring for exposed credentials, the right partner makes your organization significantly harder to compromise. If you’re evaluating providers, our MSP selection guide can help you find the right fit.

LeadingIT is Chicagoland’s trusted advisor for organizations with 25–250 users, specializing in IT and cybersecurity solutions that align with your business goals. Our unlimited support model means your team always has the help they need, when they need it, with no hidden costs. If you want to find out where your organization stands, we offer a free security risk assessment that gives you a clear blueprint for next steps. Call us at 815-788-6041 or book yours today.