Avoid Holiday Scams: How to Spot and Stop Cyber Threats During the Festive Season

The holiday season is a time of celebration – it’s a time to spread love, kindness, and holiday cheer. Unfortunately, it’s also a prime time for cybercriminals to strike. With people shopping online, sharing personal information, and connecting digitally more than ever, the festive season provides the perfect opportunity for scams to flourish. Protecting yourself and your business from holiday-related cyber threats is essential to ensure that your holidays remain merry and stress-free.

Here’s how to identify common holiday scams and take proactive steps to stop them in their tracks.

Understand Common Holiday Cyber Threats

Cybercriminals craft their tactics around the heightened activity of the festive season. Knowing their strategies can help you stay vigilant:

1. Phishing Emails and Texts

Phishing emails and text messages often disguise themselves as holiday promotions, shipping updates, or charity appeals. They use urgent language, claiming issues like “Your order is delayed” or offering deals that are “too good to miss.” Clicking on these links can lead to malicious websites designed to steal your personal information.

2. Fake Online Stores

Scammers often create fake e-commerce websites that mimic popular retailers. These websites entice shoppers with deeply discounted prices on high-demand items, only to steal payment information or never deliver the purchased goods. Keep an eye out for unsecured website warnings and unusual characters or symbols in the URL and contact information.

3. Gift Card Scams

Cybercriminals may email or text you, pretending to be a friend or colleague in need, asking for gift cards as a favour. Once the gift card information is shared, it’s almost impossible to recover the money.

4. Social Media Scams

Fraudulent advertisements, giveaways, and surveys on social platforms can trick users into divulging personal or financial details. Fake accounts can also impersonate brands, leading followers to scams.

How to Spot Holiday Scams

Spotting scams requires a blend of scepticism and attention to detail. Here’s what to look for:

1. Suspicious Links and URLs

Before clicking on a link, hover over it to preview the URL. Legitimate sites have clear and recognizable addresses. Be cautious of URLs with strange spellings, extra characters, or unfamiliar domains.

2. Poor Grammar and Spelling

Scam messages often contain spelling and grammatical errors. Professional organizations rarely send communications riddled with mistakes.

3. Unusual Requests

If an email or message asks you to act urgently, such as providing login credentials, making a payment, or purchasing gift cards, pause and verify its authenticity.

4. Lack of Secure Connections

When shopping online, ensure the website uses HTTPS (indicated by a padlock symbol in the address bar). Avoid entering payment details on unsecured sites.

Protecting Yourself and Your Business

Taking proactive measures can save you from becoming a victim of holiday cybercrime:

1. Strengthen Your Cyber Hygiene

• Update Software Regularly: Keeping your devices, software, and apps updated ensures you have the latest security patches.
• Use Strong Passwords: Avoid using easily guessable passwords like “123456” or “password.” Consider using a password manager to create and store complex passwords.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of protection to your online accounts by enabling MFA wherever possible.

2. Be Cautious with Emails and Links

• Verify the sender’s email address, especially if it claims to be from a reputable company.
• Never click on attachments or links from unknown or unverified sources.

3. Only Shop from Trusted Websites

• Choose established and well-known retailers and avoid deals that seem significantly lower or too good to be true.
• When in doubt, research the seller and read reviews before making a purchase.

4. Educate Your Team

If you run a small business, ensure your employees are aware of holiday scams. A short training session on recognizing phishing attempts and secure online behaviour can go a long way in protecting your business.

What to Do If You’re Targeted

If you suspect you’ve encountered a scam, act quickly to minimize the damage:

1. Avoid Further Interaction

Do not continue responding to or engaging with the scammer. Delete suspicious messages and block the sender.

2. Secure Your Accounts

If you’ve clicked on a phishing link or entered your credentials, change your passwords immediately. Enable MFA on compromised accounts.

3. Monitor Your Financial Transactions

Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized charges. If you notice any suspicious activity, report it to your financial institution promptly.

4. Report the Scam

Report scams to your local Police department. You can also notify the relevant platform (e.g., social media or the e-commerce site) to help take down fraudulent content.

Take Advantage of Cybersecurity Solutions

For businesses, having the basics in place to prevent a cyber incident is vital. ARMD.digital offers proactive digital risk mitigation services. By partnering with a cybersecurity expert, you can mitigate risks and ensure your business remains resilient even in the face of sophisticated scams.

Stay Cyber-Savvy This Festive Season

The holidays should be stress-free and a time of celebration! By staying informed, practicing safe online habits, and using trusted tools, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to holiday scams.

Let’s make this festive season about joy, connection, and safety—both online and offline. Stay vigilant, and happy holidays!

If you found these tips helpful, explore more ways to safeguard your business from cyber threats on our website, ARMD Digital.