Urgent: Transfer $9,800 to our new supplier today.

It was a frantic Monday. The startup’s founders were knee-deep in pitch meetings. The operations team was finalizing a product launch. Then the email came.

It looked like it was from the CEO. Perfect signature. Familiar tone. A simple request: wire $9,800 to a new vendor account.

No one questioned it—until hours later, when the real CEO asked, “What payment?”

That’s when it hit them: they’d been spear phished.

What Is Spear Phishing?

It’s not spam—it’s a con job wearing your team’s face.

Spear phishing is a targeted email attack that impersonates someone you know—your co-founder, CFO, or trusted vendor.

Unlike traditional phishing (those obvious scams from Nigerian princes), spear phishing is custom-built. Hackers study your team, learn your comms style, and strike when you’re busiest.

It’s social engineering, backed by surveillance.

Imagine a stranger studying your Slack chats, LinkedIn posts, and website team page… then crafting a fake message that feels real.

Why Startups Are the Perfect Target

Small team. Big trust. High stakes.

Startups are vulnerable because:

• Roles overlap. There’s no “finance department” to vet transfers—it’s just Sam, who also runs HR.
• Speed is culture. Decisions happen fast, often with minimal checks.
• Trust runs deep. When “John” emails you, you don’t question it—you act.

Two real-world stings:

• A Singapore startup lost $25,000 after spoofed emails during a hectic launch week.
• A boutique law firm sent client funds to a hacker posing as their vendor. Recovery? Zero.

5 Rapid Fixes to Prevent a Costly Mistake

Protect your team today with these human-first defenses:

1. Pause Before You Pay

Make it a policy: No urgent payment happens without a second pair of eyes. Even if it’s “from the CEO.”

2. Confirm with a Call

For all financial or sensitive data requests, require a second channel check—text, phone, Slack. Never trust email alone.

3. Train for the “Off” Feeling

That email looks right… but the tone’s slightly weird? The grammar’s off? That’s your gut talking. Listen.

4. Protect Your Domain

Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These tools tell your email system, “Only these senders are legit.” Your tech team can set this up in an hour.

5. Run a Fake Phishing Drill

Send your team a test email. See who clicks. Then debrief together. It’s a safe, powerful way to build awareness.

Would You Spot the Fake?

You don’t need malware to get hacked. Just trust.

Spear phishing doesn’t break into your system—it tricks your people. That’s why the fix isn’t just technical—it’s cultural.

So ask yourself:

“If someone emailed my team pretending to be me… would they know?”

Don’t wait to find out the hard way. Build a 5-minute playbook. Train your team. Lock the doors before the thief arrives.

Want to stop phishing threats before they reach your team? Contact our team or explore our DPO services to build a human-first defense strategy today.