Protecting Against Holiday Season Scams

The holiday season is a busy and exciting time for businesses, but it’s also a prime target for cybercriminals. Increased online shopping, end of year invoices, and holiday promotions create the perfect storm for phishing emails, fake delivery notifications, and social engineering attacks.

For small and medium-sized businesses, a single mistake can result in lost revenue, compromised customer data, or reputational damage. The good news? With the right awareness and preparation, these attacks are preventable.

In this article, we’ll explore the most common holiday season scams and provide practical steps your business can take to stay protected.

Common Holiday Season Scams

1. Phishing Emails
   Cybercriminals often send emails that appear to come from legitimate companies, shipping providers, banks, or popular online retailers. These emails may:

• Request login credentials or personal information.
• Contain links to fake websites that harvest sensitive data.
• Include attachments that deliver malware when opened.

During the holiday season, phishing campaigns often play on urgency, offering “limited-time deals” or “urgent account alerts.”

2. Fake Invoices and Payment Requests
   Scammers exploit businesses that are busy wrapping up end-of-year invoices or ordering holiday stock. They may:

• Send invoices for services never rendered.
• Pretend to be a supplier requesting payment to a new account.
• Target finance departments with “urgent payment” instructions.

3. Social Engineering Attacks
   Holiday scams often extend beyond email. Cybercriminals may:

• Call employees pretending to be IT support or delivery companies.
• Use social media to impersonate clients or suppliers.
• Exploit staff kindness, asking for donations or gift card purchases.

How to Protect Your Business

1. Educate Your Staff

Employees are often the first line of defense. Conduct short refresher training sessions on:

• Identifying phishing emails and suspicious links.
• Verifying unusual requests before taking action.
• Reporting suspected scams immediately.

Regular awareness can drastically reduce the risk of a successful attack.

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Even if a password is compromised, MFA adds an extra layer of security. Require it for:

• Email accounts
• Online banking or accounting systems
• Cloud services like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace

3. Verify Before You Act

Encourage staff to confirm payment or delivery requests through a separate channel. A quick phone call to the sender can prevent costly mistakes.

4. Monitor Accounts and Devices

• Keep an eye on unusual account activity or failed login attempts.
• Ensure devices are updated with the latest patches and antivirus definitions.
• Regularly back up critical data to protect against ransomware or malware attacks.

5. Use Simulated Phishing Tests

Tools like phishing simulations can help train employees in a controlled environment. By practicing detection, your team becomes more confident in spotting real threats.

Preparing for a Safe Holiday Season

Cybercriminals thrive on distraction and urgency, especially during the holidays. Planning ahead and implementing basic security measures can keep your business safe while staff focus on wrapping up the year.

• Review end-of-year processes for finance and HR to reduce errors.
• Remind employees to stay vigilant even during busy periods.
• Keep backup and recovery procedures up to date.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season should be a time of celebration, not stress from cyber incidents. By raising awareness, enforcing good security practices, and using available tools, businesses can reduce the risk of scams and enjoy a safer end-of-year period.

At Technicalities, we help businesses stay secure year-round. From phishing simulations to cloud monitoring and staff training, we make sure your team is ready to spot and stop cyber threats, even during the busiest time of the year.

👉 Contact us today to learn how we can help your business stay safe this holiday season.