What Is Clone Phishing? How It Works and How to Spot It Quickly

Scam emails have changed. They’re not full of obvious grammar mistakes or fake lottery winnings anymore. Now, some look like legitimate emails from your bank, a coworker, or a company you’ve actually done business with. That’s what makes clone phishing dangerous—it looks like something you’ve already seen and trusted.

And it’s not rare. According to Kroll’s Q4 2024 Threat Landscape report, nearly 46% of all incident response cases involved email-based attacks. Clone phishing played a big role, often using fake invoices or impersonated vendors to trick people. These scams copy real emails to raise the chances of fooling someone—especially in finance and corporate settings.

So how does it work? What are the warning signs? And how do you keep yourself and your team protected?

Let’s break it down.

What Clone Phishing Really Means

Clone phishing is when a scammer copies a real email and edits it to include a fake link or file. They send this altered version to the original recipient—or someone else in the same company or chain—hoping it’ll look familiar enough to fool them.

This isn’t like a mass email phishing attack that goes out to thousands of random addresses. Clone phishing is more focused. The attacker picks a real message—often one that had an attachment or link—and creates a nearly identical version. But now, clicking that link can send you to a fake login page or install malware.

The reason this scam works so well is simple. You’ve already seen something like it. Maybe it’s a message from your bank. Or a file from your manager. Or an alert from your IT team. When you see a cloned version, it doesn’t feel suspicious—it feels like a follow-up.

Why is Clone Phishing Effective in Deception

This type of scam doesn’t rely on poor spelling or an odd-looking sender name. It counts on one thing: recognition. If a message looks like something you’ve already opened or expect to see, you’re less likely to question it.

That’s the trick. You think, “Oh, I’ve seen this before,” and click without thinking. And that one click is all it takes.

How These Attacks Trick You

Clone phishing scams usually follow a few steps. Here’s what that process often looks like:

Step 1: They Grab a Real Message

The attacker needs a real email to copy. This could come from a breached account, an intercepted email, or even a forwarded message.

Step 2: They Alter the Content

The email’s layout, wording, and subject line stay the same, but the link or attachment changes. What looks like a Google Doc or invoice now sends you to a phishing site or drops malware on your device.

Step 3: They Fake the Sender’s Identity

Scammers often spoof the sender by making small changes. For example, instead of support@yourbank.com, they might use support@yourbank-mail.com. The "From" name might still read “Customer Support,” but the email address tells a different story.

Step 4: They Resend the Email

It shows up in your inbox just like before. Sometimes it appears to be a follow-up or resend, making it feel even more legitimate. And because it looks familiar, most people won’t stop to double-check the details.

The steps may shift depending on the scammer’s method, but the goal stays the same: reuse your trust against you.

Examples of Clone Phishing

These scams show up across industries and departments. Here are common versions people fall for:

1. Bank Notifications That Look Official

You receive an email saying there’s a “New Login Attempt” or “Suspicious Transaction.” It includes your bank’s branding and looks identical to past alerts. But the link points to a fake login page built to steal your login credentials.

2. Vendor Invoice Messages

A scammer sends a message that mimics your vendor’s invoice emails. The subject might say, “Updated Invoice – URGENT.” Everything matches what you’ve seen before—except the attached file leads to ransomware.

3. Shared Document Invitations

You get an email saying someone has shared a file on Google Drive or Dropbox. It even shows the name of a coworker. But clicking the link doesn’t open the real app. It opens a fake sign-in page built to capture your credentials.

You can use an email verifier if the email address seems suspicious and you want to double-check. If it's labeled as TOXIC, that's a red-flag. But even a valid address doesn't necessarily mean it's legitimate. Proceed with caution.

4. Internal IT Notices

You’re asked to verify your password or confirm access to a system. The message may include your name, company logo, and even real internal email formats. But it’s not your IT team—it’s a scammer using company info to get past your guard.

Red Flags to Watch For

Even if a message looks legit, a few warning signs can help you spot the fake:

• Two emails about the same topic: If you already acted on an earlier message and suddenly get another one that looks almost the same, be suspicious.
• Tiny changes in the sender’s address: Always check the full email address—not just the name. Look for extra characters, numbers, or different domains.
• New file names or different links: If an attachment has a strange name or the link points somewhere unfamiliar, don’t click.
• Odd sending times: Messages that come at midnight or at a time that’s unusual for the sender should make you pause.
• Urgent tone: Phrases like “Act Now,” “Immediate Action Required,” or “Account Suspension” are pressure tactics meant to override your judgment.

Want to know the person involved in suspicious emails? You can use a True People Search tool to reveal the person tied to that email. The email address can be used as the input data point to search for more details about the sender.

How to Lower the Risk for You and Your Team

Even the best spam filters can miss clone phishing attempts. That’s why you need habits and tools that help stop them before damage is done.

1. Always Verify Through Another Channel

If something seems off, ask the sender using another method. Don’t hit reply. Send a Slack message, text them, or call. If they didn’t send it, they’ll tell you.

2. Hover Before You Click

On a computer, hovering your mouse over a link shows the actual URL. If it doesn’t match the sender’s company site or includes random strings or spelling, don’t click.

3. Use Two-Factor Authentication

If someone gets your password, 2FA can block them from logging in. Use it on every account that allows it.

4. Don’t Skip Security Training

Phishing isn’t just an IT problem. Every department should know how to spot email scams. Make training part of onboarding, and send regular reminders or quick examples to keep the team sharp.

5. Report Suspicious Emails Immediately

Even if you’re not sure, flag questionable messages to your security team or IT. Reporting helps them catch patterns, alert others, and reduce risk.

How Attackers Get the Original Emails

You might wonder how scammers get access to emails they end up cloning. Here are the usual ways:

• Email account takeover: A weak password or no 2FA lets someone break in and view your inbox. Use a strong password to secure your account.
• Forwarded emails: Someone in your team or contact list shares a message and the wrong person sees it.
• Third-party data breach: If a vendor’s system is compromised, attackers can access messages sent between you and that vendor.

Even newsletters or confirmation emails can be cloned if someone gets a copy. It doesn’t have to come from your inbox directly.

Final Thought

Clone phishing doesn’t hit you out of nowhere. It works because it blends into the familiar. When you recognize a layout, logo, or sender name, you let your guard down.

But small details like a changed domain, a strange attachment, or an odd send time, are signs that something’s off.

So take a second before you click. Look at the sender’s full address. Hover over links.

And if anything doesn’t feel right, double-check it through another channel. That tiny pause could stop a password theft or a malware attack.

Your inbox might feel safe, but threats often arrive looking like a friend or trusted source. As always, trust, but verify!