Phishing Is Getting Smarter: 3 Tricks to Watch for in 2025

Phishing isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the sloppy typos and shady links. Today’s cybercriminals are using AI, QR codes, and voice tech to create more believable — and dangerous — scams.

Here are three modern phishing tricks we're now seeing and you need to update your team on:

1. “Quishing” — QR Code Phishing

   Scammers are now embedding QR codes in emails, flyers, or even fake business cards. You scan the code with your phone — and suddenly you’re on a fake login page or malware-laced site.

   
   

   Real-world example: A team member prints a flyer they got in email for “free business funding.” You scan the QR code… and it asks for your bank login.

   
   

   What You Need to Do: Train your employees to be cautious when scanning QR codes from unknown sources. Treat them like clickable links — and don’t trust them blindly.

2. “Deepfake Voicemail” or “Vishing 2.0”

   Using AI, attackers can create voicemail messages that sound like your boss, your client, or your accountant. These fake voice notes usually ask you to do something quickly:

   
   

   Real-world example: “Can you wire the payment before 3pm?” “We’ve had a breach — call me back now.”

   
   

   What You Need to Do: Verify any unusual request via a known phone number or different channel — even if the voice sounds familiar. Don't just trust that because the person on the end sounds like your boss that they are your boss.

3. “AI-Polished Email Impersonation”

   Forget bad grammar. These days, scammers use ChatGPT-style tools to write emails that are:

   • Polished

   • Personal

   • Urgent

Real-world example: They’ll spoof real names and email addresses, asking for quick action like: “Just need your help wrapping this invoice,” or “Can you confirm your login info for payroll?”

What You Need to Do: Always check the full email address. Hover over links before clicking. And if it feels “off,” trust your instinct.

Our Final Thought:

Today’s phishing doesn’t look suspicious — it looks professional.

Slow down. Verify. And remember: If it smells urgent, it deserves extra scrutiny.