The holiday season is here, and along with it, a surge in cyber threats. While you're busy preparing your holiday wish list, cybercriminals are devising new ways to target unsuspecting online shoppers. Holiday phishing scams have become an unfortunately common menace, with cybercriminals aiming to pilfer personal information, financial data, and even identities.

To minimize the risk of falling prey to cybercriminals and ensure that your holiday remains joyful, we've outlined some of the most prevalent and perilous scams to watch out for, how they operate, and tips to help you avoid becoming their next victim.

Understanding Holiday Phishing Scams:

Phishing is a deceitful tactic employed by cybercriminals to deceive individuals into divulging sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, or Social Security numbers. During the holiday season, these scams often take on a festive guise, tricking victims with holiday-themed emails, messages, and websites. Whether you're purchasing gifts for clients or loved ones, here are some common tactics used by holiday phishing scammers:

  1. Holiday-Themed Emails: Scammers send emails that mimic trusted sources, like your favorite retailers or cherished charities. These emails appear authentic and frequently offer false exclusive holiday deals, order confirmations, or solicitations for donations. Within these emails, you'll typically find links that lead to counterfeit websites designed to steal your information, your money, or even install malicious software on your computer.
  2. Bogus Promotions: Cybercriminals create fake holiday promotions and discounts that appear too good to be true. Unsuspecting victims encounter enticing deals from spoofed email accounts and are tempted to click on links or download attachments that could contain malware or lead to phishing sites. In some instances, cybercriminals aren't seeking to install malware but instead aim to siphon your funds. They duplicate well-known retailer websites or establish their own, collecting money for purchases that they never deliver. These sites are often challenging to trace, making it difficult to recover your money.
  3. Delivery Notifications: With the surge in online shopping during the holidays, scammers send counterfeit delivery notifications, claiming a package is en route or an order has issues. These emails may prompt recipients to click on links or download attachments containing malicious software.
  4. Social Engineering: Scammers may impersonate friends or family members via email or social media, requesting money or personal information under the guise of a holiday emergency or gift exchange. This is a common scam targeting seniors, who may not realize that the profile requesting money, created "three days ago," isn't actually their granddaughter. It also affects young teenagers who may not be aware of the prevalence of fake profiles.

Recognizing and Avoiding Holiday Phishing Scams:

Now that we've explored how holiday phishing scams operate, it's crucial to know how to identify them and prevent falling victim:

  1. Verify The Sender: Always scrutinize the sender's email address or domain. Be cautious of misspelled or suspicious email addresses. Genuine companies and organizations use official domains for their correspondence.
  2. Avoid Suspicious Links: Hover your cursor over links to reveal the actual URL they lead to. Be wary of shortened links or URLs that don't match the sender's domain. If uncertain, directly visit the website by typing the URL into your browser.
  3. Be Wary of Urgency and Pressure: Scammers often generate a sense of urgency, promoting limited-time offers or imminent problems. Take your time to verify the legitimacy of such claims before taking action.
  4. Double-Check Websites: Prior to entering personal or financial details on a website, ensure it is secure. Look for "https://" in the URL, a padlock icon in the address bar, and a valid SSL certificate.
  5. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA, especially for online shopping and banking accounts. This adds an extra layer of security, even if your password is compromised.
  6. Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about current phishing tactics and share this knowledge with friends and family. Raising awareness makes it more challenging for scammers to succeed.
  7. Safeguard Personal Information: Refrain from sharing sensitive details via email or text messages, even if the request appears legitimate. Utilize secure channels for such communication.

While the holiday season is a time of celebration and unity, it's imperative to stay vigilant against holiday phishing scams. Cybercriminals exploit the festive spirit and increased online activity during this period. By recognizing the signs of phishing attempts and adhering to best practices for online security, you can safeguard yourself and ensure a secure and joyful holiday season for you and your loved ones.

Business owners: If your staff will be making online purchases for clients, ensure they can spot phishing attacks, and verify that your network is adequately secured to prevent potential breaches. Protect your organization from any adverse impacts on your holiday goodwill. If you're uncertain about your level of protection, please contact us or schedule a brief discovery session with our team for peace of mind this holiday season. Click here to book now, and enjoy the holidays!