Trust-Based Phishing Examples: Emails Impersonating Trusted Brands

Phishing remains one of the biggest cybersecurity threats, with 94% of organizations falling victim to phishing attacks in 2024. Cybercriminals exploit trust by impersonating well-known brands—such as banks, tech companies, and government agencies—to deceive individuals into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive information.

Trust-based phishing relies on familiarity and urgency, using convincing branding, fake domains, and alarming messages to trick recipients. These attacks can lead to data breaches, financial fraud, and account takeovers.

In this blog post, we’ll explore common trust-based phishing examples, the psychology behind these scams, and the best strategies to prevent them

What is Trust-Based Phishing?

Trust-based phishing occurs when attackers impersonate well-known companies—such as banks, tech firms, or government agencies—to trick victims into clicking malicious links, entering credentials, or downloading malware. Because people regularly receive emails from these brands, they often fail to spot fraudulent ones.

Key Signs of Trust-Based Phishing Emails:

• Appear to be from a legitimate brand (e.g., PayPal, Microsoft, Google)
• Use urgent language (e.g., "Your account has been compromised!")
• Mimic official branding and email templates
• Employ fake but similar-looking domains (e.g., "amaz0n-support.com")
• Request sensitive information like login credentials or payment details

To learn which companies cybercriminals impersonate most frequently, read Keepnet's guide on Top 5 Most Spoofed Brands.

5 Common Trust-Based Phishing Examples

Cybercriminals frequently impersonate well-known brands to trick users into revealing sensitive information. These scams often exploit trust, urgency, and official-looking emails to appear legitimate. Below are five of the most common trust-based phishing tactics and how to identify them.

1. Bank Impersonation Phishing

Scammers send fake emails posing as well-known banks, claiming suspicious activity has been detected on the recipient’s account. These emails create urgency, pressuring users to click malicious links and enter their credentials.

Example: A fraudulent email from "Bank of America Security Team" with the subject "Security Alert: Suspicious Activity Detected" warns of unauthorized login attempts. It urges the recipient to "secure their account" by clicking a link that leads to a fake login page.

Prevention: Always verify security alerts by logging into your bank’s official website instead of clicking links in emails.

2. Tech Support Scams

Cybercriminals send phishing emails pretending to be from Microsoft, Google, or Apple, claiming there has been unauthorized access to the recipient’s account. These emails often urge immediate action, directing users to a fake login page to steal credentials.

Example: A fraudulent email from "Microsoft Security Team" warns of "Unusual Sign-In Activity" and urges the recipient to secure their account by clicking a malicious link.

Prevention: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and always check login activity by visiting the official website instead of clicking email links.

3. Fake Subscription Renewals

Scammers pose as streaming services, antivirus providers, or SaaS companies, claiming a payment failure to trick users into updating their billing details on a fake page.

Example: A phishing email from "Netflix Billing" falsely states that your subscription will be canceled unless you update your payment information immediately.

Prevention: Check subscription status by logging into the official website instead of clicking links in emails.

4. Shipping and Delivery Scams

Scammers impersonate FedEx, UPS, or DHL, sending fake delivery notifications designed to trick users into clicking malicious links or downloading malware. These emails often create urgency by claiming a missed delivery or requiring address verification.

Example: A phishing email from "FedEx Express" claims that a delivery attempt failed and instructs the recipient to click a link to reschedule, leading to a fake login page or malware download.

Prevention: Always track shipments using the official courier’s website by entering the tracking number instead of clicking links in emails.

5. Government and Tax Scams

Scammers pose as tax authorities, law enforcement, or government agencies, sending fraudulent emails that threaten fines, legal action, or promise tax refunds to trick victims into sharing personal information.

Example: A phishing email from "IRS Support" claims you are eligible for a tax refund and must submit personal details to receive the payment. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the official tax authority in the United States, but scammers frequently impersonate it to steal personal and financial information.

Prevention: Government agencies never request sensitive information or payments via email. Always verify such claims by visiting the official government website.

The Psychology Behind Trust-Based Phishing Scams

Trust-based phishing takes advantage of cognitive biases, making victims more likely to fall for scams. Two key biases attackers exploit are:

• Authority Bias – People tend to trust emails from authoritative sources, such as banks or government agencies.
• Familiarity Bias – Emails from well-known brands feel legitimate, reducing suspicion.

Scammers use professional-looking designs and urgent language to create panic and pressure recipients into acting without thinking.

To better understand how human behavior influences cybersecurity risks and defenses, read Keepnet's article on The Complexity of Human Behavior in Cybersecurity: From Threats to Defence.

Best Practices to Prevent Trust-Based Phishing

Trust-based phishing attacks exploit familiarity and urgency, making them harder to detect. Implementing strong security measures can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to these scams.

• Verify Sender Identity: Check email addresses for misspellings or unusual domains that mimic legitimate brands.
• Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: Hover over links to preview the actual URL before clicking.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized access.
• Use Email Filtering Tools: Block phishing emails by implementing advanced security filters.
• Train Employees Regularly: Strengthen awareness with Security Awareness Training to reduce phishing risks.

How Keepnet Helps Prevent Trust-Based Phishing Attack Examples

Keepnet equips organizations with targeted phishing simulations, behavior-driven training, and proactive incident response to combat trust-based phishing scams effectively.

AI-Powered Phishing Simulations

Keepnet’s Phishing Simulator uses AI-driven simulations to replicate real-world trust-based phishing attacks, helping employees identify and report threats. Organizations using this tool have seen phishing reporting rates increase by up to 92%, significantly reducing social engineering risks.

Behavior-Based Security Awareness Training

Keepnet’s Security Awareness Training helps organizations reduce high-risk security behaviors by up to 90%. Interactive modules use The Nudge Theory to reinforce phishing detection skills, promote smarter decision-making, and foster a strong security culture.

Phishing Risk Scoring & Employee Vulnerability Tracking

The Keepnet Human Risk Management Platform monitors employee interactions with phishing simulations, assigning risk scores to identify those most vulnerable to attacks.

To learn more about assessing and managing phishing risk, read Keepnet's guide on Creating a Phishing Risk Score for Employees.

Incident Response

Keepnet’s Incident Responder rapidly detects and removes phishing threats, scanning 7,500 inboxes in under 5 minutes. With AI-powered detection and 20+ integrated analysis engines, it identifies zero-day attacks and streamlines response. Compatible with Office 365, Google Workspace, and Exchange, it also enables quick threat reporting through the Phishing Reporter add-in, ensuring secure and efficient incident management.

Protecting Against Trust-Based Phishing Attack Examples

Trust-based phishing scams exploit familiarity and authority to trick victims into revealing sensitive information. Recognizing these tactics and implementing strong security measures can significantly reduce risk. Organizations should use AI-powered phishing simulations, behavior-driven training, and advanced detection tools to strengthen their defenses.

Stay vigilant and enhance your security strategy with the Keepnet Human Risk Management Platform to proactively identify and mitigate phishing threats.