Oops, I Clicked It: What to Do If You Fall for a Phishing or Social Engineering Attack

Even the most vigilant and well-trained person can make a split-second mistake when faced with a convincing phishing email or social engineering attempt. Maybe you clicked a link, downloaded a file, or gave away information before realizing something felt… off.

First, take a deep breath. Then take action. Here's what to do if you think you've fallen for a phishing or social engineering scam.

1. Stay Calm and Own It

It’s easy to panic — but try not to. These attacks are designed to manipulate human behavior, often using urgency, fear, or authority to cloud judgment. That doesn’t mean you failed. It means the attacker was persuasive. What’s important now is taking the right steps quickly.

And please — don’t try to hide the mistake. The sooner you act, the better your chances of containing the damage.

2. Report It Immediately

Whether you work with an internal IT team or a managed service provider (like us!), report the incident right away. Even if you're not 100% sure something went wrong, it's better to overreport than to miss an opportunity to stop an attack in its tracks.

We'd much rather check out a false alarm than deal with a data breach that went unreported.

3. Disconnect the Device (If Applicable)

If you downloaded an attachment, opened a suspicious file, or entered your credentials on a phishing website:

• Disconnect from Wi-Fi or unplug your Ethernet cable.

• Avoid logging into anything else from that device.

• Leave it powered on, but stop using it until IT can assess the situation.

  
  

This can help isolate any potential malware and prevent it from spreading across your network.

4. Change Your Passwords

If you entered login credentials on a fake site or suspect your email/account info was compromised, change your password(s) immediately. Start with:

• Email accounts

• Financial accounts

• Work portals or systems

• Any reused passwords (and let this be a sign to stop reusing them!)

  
  

Use strong, unique passwords and turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.

5. Watch for Further Signs of Compromise

Scammers often don’t act right away. Keep an eye on your email, bank accounts, social media, and other key services for:

• Suspicious logins or password reset attempts

• Unauthorized purchases or changes

• Colleagues receiving strange emails “from you”

  
  

If your email was compromised, attackers might try to target others by pretending to be you.

6. Learn from the Experience

Once the situation is handled, take a moment to understand how the attack worked:

• What made it convincing?

• What did the attacker say or do that triggered a response?

• Were there red flags in hindsight?

  
  

Share what happened with your team. Talking about it helps reduce stigma, strengthens your company’s overall awareness, and may help someone else avoid the same trap.

7. Stay Engaged – Security Is Ongoing

Cybersecurity isn’t a one-and-done training topic. It's a daily mindset. Threats evolve, and so should our awareness. That’s why we focus on regular training, continuous monitoring, and proactive protection to help keep our clients safe year-round.

Final Thoughts

The truth is, no one is immune to phishing and social engineering attacks — not individuals, not employees, and not even IT professionals. Mistakes happen, and attackers count on that. But a mistake doesn’t have to become a crisis. Knowing what to do next, and having a trusted team to turn to, makes all the difference.

If you ever feel unsure about an email, link, or request — pause and ask. We’re here to help, not to judge.

Call us at 785-714-0205

Email us at scott@smgunlimited.com

Learn more at www.smgunlimited.com