The Most Popular Brand of 2026 is Microsoft (But Only for Scammers)

 If you check your spam folder right now, it is almost guaranteed what you’ll see: an "urgent" alert from Microsoft. Maybe it says your storage is full, your password expired, or there was a "suspicious login" from another country.

According to the latest Q4 data from Check Point Research, Microsoft is once again the most impersonated brand in the world, accounting for 22% of all phishing attempts globally.

Well, this does not come as a shock. Microsoft and Google (which took second place at 13%) aren't just tech companies, they are the "keys to the kingdom." If a scammer gets your Microsoft login, they don’t just get your email—they get your files, your company’s internal directory, and your identity.

Why These Scams are Actually Working

It’s easy to joke that nobody falls for these, but the reality is that today's attacks are polished, psychological, and incredibly sneaky.

1. The "Lookalike" Trap

One of the sneakiest tactics right now involves "lookalike" domains. Scammers register websites using characters from different alphabets that look identical to the original website. To a computer, a Cyrillic "а" is completely different from a Latin "a," but to your eyes in an address bar, micrоsoft.com looks exactly like the real thing. 

2. Targeting the Kids

One of the most concerning trends we’re seeing is scammers targeting younger audiences through platforms like Roblox. They create fake game pages (like the recent "Skibidi" themed scams) that look identical to the real platform. If they can trick a child into "logging in" to a fake page, they’ve stolen a family's credentials before the parents even know what happened.

3. Exploiting Busy Season

Amazon jumped to the #3 spot recently, fueled by the holiday shopping rush. Scammers know when you’re busy, distracted, and expecting a delivery notification. That’s when they strike.

How to Protect Your Team 

We tell our clients that while software helps, the best defense is a healthy dose of skepticism. Here’s how to stay safe:

• Stop the "Urgency" Reflex: If an email screams that your account will be "deleted in 24 hours," it’s almost certainly a scam. Legitimate companies rarely use that kind of aggressive pressure.
• Look at the Sender, Not the Name: Anyone can change their "Display Name" to say "Microsoft Support." Click on the name to see the actual email address behind it. If it’s support@microsft-security-update.net, delete it.
• Go to the Source: If you’re worried about your account, don't click the link in the email. Open your browser, type office.com or google.com yourself, and log in there. If there's a real problem, you'll see a notification in your dashboard.
• Use an Authenticator App: SMS-based codes are better than nothing, but they can be intercepted. Use an app like Bitwarden or Microsoft Authenticator for a much higher level of security.

Stopping "Spoofing" with DMARC

While training your team to spot these red flags is vital, there is a powerful technical shield that many businesses are still missing: DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance).

Without DMARC, an attacker with enough skill can send an email that literally appears to come from your address. This is called "spoofing." Imagine a vendor or customer receiving an email from your real address asking them to update their payment details to a new, fraudulent account. Even though you didn't send it, the damage to your reputation and business relationships can be irreparable.

By implementing DMARC, we ensure that:

• Spoofing is Neutralized: Any unauthorized use of your domain is clearly marked, so it gets filtered out before it ever reaches your clients or vendors.
• Deliverability is Guaranteed: Major services like Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are increasingly blocking emails from domains that don't have these security protocols in place.
• You Get Insight: DMARC generates reports showing exactly who is sending mail on your behalf—identifying both legitimate tools and illegitimate attackers.

The Bottom Line

Phishing works because it exploits our familiarity with the brands we use every day. Our goal at Interlock IT is to build the technical barriers, like DMARC, that keep these threats out—while also arming your team with the knowledge to spot the one or two that inevitably slip through the cracks.

Is your team ready to spot a homoglyph attack? And is your domain protected against spoofing? We specialize in DMARC implementations and securing digital identities. 

Reach out to us for a comprehensive security checkup today.