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The holiday season brings out the best in people. We see more generosity, celebrations, and togetherness. It also brings out cybercriminals who know you're busy. You're distracted, and feeling a little more generous than usual. You're juggling year-end deadlines, shopping for gifts, and planning office parties. Bad actors are crafting emails designed to trick you and your team.
The good news? You don't need to be a cybersecurity expert to spot these scams and protect your business. You just need to know what to look for. Let's walk through the most common email threats that spike during the holidays. You can keep your business safe while still enjoying the season.
The Fake Charity Appeal: Preying on Your Good Heart
This time of year, many of us want to give back. Criminals know this and create fake charity emails that look real. These messages pull at your heartstrings with stories about children in need, disaster relief efforts, or local causes. They'll include official-looking logos, professional language, and convenient "donate now" buttons.
Here's the problem, clicking that button doesn't help anyone except the criminal who created it. Your credit card information goes straight to them, not to a real charity.
What to do instead: If an email moves you to donate, don't click the link in the email. Instead, open your browser and go directly to the charity's official website. Better yet, call them. Real charities will be happy you took the extra step to verify. Your generosity should help people who truly need it.
The Innocent Holiday E-Card That Isn't So Innocent
Who doesn't love receiving a thoughtful holiday card? Criminals are counting on that warm feeling you get when you see "You've received a holiday greeting!" in your inbox. These fake e-cards look like they're from Hallmark, Blue Mountain, or other well-known sites. Some even appear to come from colleagues or friends.
When you click to view your "card," you're downloading malware onto your computer. This malicious software can steal your passwords or worse.
What to do instead: Before clicking on any e-card, look closely at the sender's email address. Does it match the person or company it claims to be from? When in doubt, reach out to the supposed sender through a different method. Text or call them to ask if they sent you a card. If a stranger sends you an e-card out of the blue, that's a huge red flag. Delete it.
The "Secret Santa" or "Holiday Party" Trap
Your team is organizing some kind of holiday celebration. Criminals know this too. They'll send emails that look like they're from your office manager. It's inviting you to sign up for Secret Santa or RSVP for the company party.
These emails often include links to "sign-up sheets" or "party details". They are designed to steal your login credentials or download malware. Sometimes they'll ask you to update your contact information or confirm your address for "gift delivery."
What to do instead: If you receive an unexpected email about office holiday events, verify it before clicking anything. Walk over to the person who supposedly sent it or send them a message through a different channel. Creating a quick in-person verification habit takes five seconds and could save you hours of cleanup.
The Gift Card Scam That Targets Your Team
This one is sneaky and very common. A team member receives an urgent email that appears to be from the CEO, owner, or another executive. The message says something like: "I need you to purchase gift cards for our best clients as a thank you. I'm in meetings all day. Can you handle this? Send me the card numbers once you have them."
The tone is urgent. The request seems reasonable. The person who received this wants to be helpful. So they buy the gift cards, scratch off the codes, and email them back. Except they just sent hundreds or thousands of dollars directly to a criminal.
What to do instead: Establish a clear policy. No one makes purchases based solely on email requests, no matter who they appear to be from. If your boss needs gift cards, they can ask in person, via phone call, or through your established approval process. Make sure your entire team knows this rule. Send a reminder during the busy holiday season when everyone's trying to be extra helpful.
CEO Fraud: When the Boss Isn't Really the Boss
Similar to the gift card scam, CEO fraud involves criminals impersonating executives. They request urgent wire transfers, sensitive information, or access to systems. During the holidays, these scams increase. Criminals know decision-makers are traveling. The approval processes might be relaxed, and everyone's rushing to finish things before year-end.
The emails look legitimate. They might even reference real projects or clients. That urgent wire transfer for a "time-sensitive business opportunity" is fake. It's going straight to the criminal's account.
What to do instead: Never process financial transactions or share sensitive information based only on email. Unusual urgency is a huge red flag. Set up a verification system in your company. A quick phone call to confirm, a second approval required for transfers over a certain amount, or a standard phrase only your real executive would know.
Your Holiday Security Checklist
Protecting your business during the holidays doesn't require expensive software or expert knowledge. It requires awareness and simple habits:
- Verify before you click, especially on emotional or urgent requests
- Go directly to websites instead of clicking email links
- Confirm unusual requests through a different communication channel
- Remind your team that it's okay to double-check, even with the boss
- Take an extra five seconds to look closely at sender addresses
The criminals are counting on you being busy, distracted, and in a hurry. Don't give them that advantage. Caution now means you can enjoy your holidays instead of dealing with a security disaster.
Stay safe out there, and happy holidays!
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