As Christmas is around the corner, even the grinchiest among us can’t ignore that holiday vibe. Christmas songs are playing as we do our grocery shopping, families are planning long-awaited get-togethers, and your employees are (hopefully) whistling while they work!
Twinkling lights, the jingle of bells, the enticing aroma of delicious treats, laughter, and joy are just a few of the things that come to mind when we think of Christmas. However, among celebrations, lurks a non-festive phenomenon – phishing scams.
Christmas is a time when our inboxes become minefields. Imagine opening your email, just to find a trap disguised as a festive greeting.
This reality reminds us that as we go about the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we should be alert against the sophisticated phishing scams that turn this season of giving into a season of taking.
Unwrapping the Why: Exploring the Holiday Season’s Phishing Frenzy
As we decorate our halls and light our candles, there is a shadow cast by the notable increase in phishing scams during the holiday season. Let’s understand the reasons behind this seasonal spike:
- Clever camouflage in festive disguise
During the holiday season, scammers expertly trick us with emails that look like festive greetings. These phishing attempts become more enticing and less suspicious as they contain Christmas graphics and holiday sales promotions. It becomes really difficult to distinguish them from genuine holiday messages.
- The challenge of high email volume
The increase in emails around the holiday season makes it very difficult to spot the fraudulent ones. Cybercriminals take advantage of this busy period, as people might fail to notice the red flags in phishing emails, as they are distracted.
- Exploiting the holiday hustle and bustle
People are in a rush during the holiday season, as they are busy online shopping or finishing off their end-of-the-year tasks. This makes people more vulnerable to phishing scams, as they may not take the time to verify the authenticity of the emails and links.
- Targeting Seasonal shoppers
With the spike in online shopping for gifts, scammers set up fake websites and send phishing emails, offering incredible deals. Unsuspecting shoppers, in search of the perfect gift, easily fall for these too-good-to-be-true offers.
- Preying on end-of-year anxieties
As the year comes to an end, phishing emails may also exploit finance and health-related anxieties, offering fake insurance or tax-saving opportunities. These scams play on the common desire to start the new year on a positive note.
How to Outsmart Holiday Phishing Scams
Arm yourself with these strategies to sidestep the seasonal phishing scams:
- Be stingy with your details
Be cautious about sharing details like your date of birth, address, or financial information, especially when alluring social media promotions ask for them.
- Smart online shopping practices
Regularly check your statements for any discrepancies and avoid saving your payment details in online stores. Remember, using public Wi-Fi for shopping can expose your personal information to risks, similar to leaving your belongings in a public, unguarded area.
- Scrutinize payment methods
When you shop online, be careful of transactions that push for wire transfers, virtual currency, or gift card payments. These payment methods are often risky, with little chance of recourse if something goes wrong. You should opt for secure and traceable methods of payment for your purchases.
- Strengthen your passwords
Secure each account with unique passwords. In this way, even if one of your accounts is compromised, the others remain protected.
- Scrutinize before you click
Look out for the tell-tale signs of phishing: generic greetings, spelling errors, and too-good-to-be-true offers. When in doubt, don’t click on links or download attachments.
How to Spot Holiday Phishing Emails
Recognizing the warning signs is important to avoid getting caught in holiday phishing scams. Let’s have a look at the telltale signs:
- Suspicious email addresses and links
This is the first sign of a phishing attempt. Be cautious of emails from unknown senders. Avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails.
- Generic or impersonal language
Phishing emails often use generic greetings like Dear Customer or Dear User. Personalized emails from legitimate companies usually address you by your actual name. A lack of personalization can be a red flag indicating a phishing attempt.
- Urgent deadlines and pressured demands
A common tactic in phishing emails is creating a sense of urgency. Be wary of emails that pressure you to act quickly, such as claiming your account will be closed or you’ll miss out on a fantastic deal unless you act immediately.
- Poor grammar and spelling
Pay attention to the quality of the writing in the email. Phishing attempts often contain poor spelling and grammar, which can be a clear indication that the email is not from a reputable source.
- Suspicious email attachments
Approach email attachments with caution, especially if they’re unexpected. These attachments could contain malware or viruses.
Equipping Your Employees Against Holiday Phishing Scams
Here are a few key strategies to empower your team against holiday phishing scams:
- Regular cybersecurity awareness training
As the holiday season approaches, your organization should conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training. The methods used should be engaging and interactive, like simulations, case studies, and quizzes.
- Recognizing suspicious emails
Teach your employees to recognize the signs of phishing emails. These include urgent language, unexpected attachments, or links, and requests for sensitive information. Encourage employees to be vigilant and report unusual emails.
- Reinforcing digital defenses
You should ensure that the security software on all company devices is updated regularly. This includes anti-virus programs, firewalls, and email filters.
- Ensuring strong passwords
Your employees should be encouraged to manage and update their passwords, especially in the lead-up to the holiday season. They should be encouraged to use different passwords for different accounts.
- Emphasizing Two-Factor Authentication
Implement and promote the use of two-factor authentication (2FA) across the organization. Make it clear that 2FA acts as an additional barrier, even if a password is compromised.
Arm Your Employees Against Holiday Phishing Scams With CybeReady
As phishing scams get more sophisticated this holiday season, it’s more important than ever that you empower your employees and show them that you want to help them keep the business secure.
At CybeReady, we work with businesses to offer cybersecurity awareness training that provides immediate feedback to your employees, and continually tests 100% of your staff. We provide the metrics that you need as a business to feel confident that your security posture is improving, and that employees are learning to protect themselves and the business from the rising threat of phishing scams. Now that sounds like a Happy New Year!
Interested in getting insight into your employee risk levels as you enter 2024? Schedule a demo of our readiness training platform, here.
