You trust your team.
They’re smart. Experienced. Capable. They know not to click on strange links or open sketchy attachments.

And they’ve definitely heard of phishing scams before.

So… they’re not the type to fall for one.
Right?

That’s what most firms think — until it happens.

Confidence Isn’t the Same as Caution

Here’s the reality: overconfidence is one of the most overlooked cybersecurity threats inside professional service firms.

A recent study found that 86% of employees believe they can spot phishing emails, yet more than half have already fallen for a scam at some point.

Let that sink in.

These aren’t careless people. These are smart professionals who thought they were being careful. But today’s phishing scams aren’t the clumsy “foreign prince” emails from 2006. They’re highly targeted, realistic, and designed to exploit trust.

We’re seeing:

• Fake invoice emails that match your vendors’ formats

• Account alerts that look like they’re from your bank or payment processor

• Messages that appear to come from your managing partner, payroll contact, or IT team

And when someone thinks, “I’d never fall for that,” they’re less likely to double-check — and more likely to click.

Why This Hits Firms Like Yours Harder

Accounting, legal, and healthcare firms are prime targets because:

• You handle sensitive data

• You rely on email to move fast

• You often work with tight deadlines and urgent requests

Cyber criminals know this. And they use it against you — crafting messages that look routine, relevant, and time-sensitive.

And when a trusted team member thinks they know better, it’s easier to get past your first line of defense.

So How Do You Reduce the Risk?

This is about shifting your culture from confidence to caution — not fear, but healthy skepticism.

Here’s where to start:

✅ Make training a habit, not a checkbox.

Short, regular phishing awareness sessions are more effective than one-off “compliance” trainings.

✅ Create a reporting-friendly culture.

Your staff should feel safe flagging something suspicious — not embarrassed or worried they’ll be blamed.

✅ Test and reinforce.

Simulated phishing emails (yes, we do this) help identify risk and reinforce learning without actual danger.

✅ Don’t just rely on people.

Even the best-trained teams need backup — like email filtering, MFA, and endpoint protection that catch mistakes before they spread.

Tech-Savvy ≠ Threat-Proof

Cybersecurity isn’t about how smart your staff is — it’s about how prepared your systems and culture are.

So when someone says, “Don’t worry, I’d never fall for that,” take it as a sign.
Not that they’re careless — but that it’s time to double down on education and reinforcement.

And if you're not sure where to start, we’ll help you assess your current phishing defenses — and build a smarter plan.

📩 mailto:[email protected] about lowering your risk without slowing your business down.