Holiday Scams Are on the Rise: How to Stay Protected

Posted 19th November 2024

The festive season is here!

A time for joy, celebration, and… unfortunately, an increase in scams.

Cybercriminals know we’re busy shopping, socialising, and winding down for the holidays, making it the perfect time for them to strike. As a small business owner or employee, staying vigilant is crucial to ensure your personal and professional security isn’t compromised.

Here’s a rundown of some common holiday scams affecting the UK and our tips to help you stay safe during the most wonderful time of the year.

Fake Delivery Notifications

With the surge in online shopping, parcel delivery scams are rampant. Fraudsters pose as legitimate couriers, sending texts or emails claiming you owe a fee to release your package.

How to Spot the Scam:

• Look out for generic greetings like “Dear Customer.”
• Beware of urgent language, e.g., “Act now to avoid delays!”
• Double-check the sender’s email address or text number.

Stay Safe:
Never click on a link in an unsolicited message. If in doubt, go directly to the courier’s official website or app to track your delivery.

Dodgy Holiday Deals

Scammers are exploiting our desire for festive bargains. They set up fake websites offering too-good-to-be-true prices on everything from gadgets to holiday getaways.

How to Spot the Scam:

• The website URL might look odd, with spelling errors or extra symbols.
• Payment options may only include bank transfer or cryptocurrency.
• Customer reviews, if any, are often poorly written or duplicated.

Stay Safe:
Stick to reputable retailers and check reviews on trusted platforms like Trustpilot. Also, always pay using a method that offers fraud protection, such as a credit card.

Charity Scams

The season of giving is sadly exploited by scammers pretending to represent charities. These fraudsters often target small businesses, asking for donations via email, phone, or even in person.

How to Spot the Scam:

• High-pressure tactics to donate immediately.
• Generic thank-you emails that don’t reference your previous interactions with the charity.
• Inability to provide proof of their registered charity status.

Stay Safe:
Verify a charity’s legitimacy through the Charity Commission’s website and never feel pressured to donate on the spot.

Business Invoice Fraud

For businesses, fraudsters may send fake invoices, often disguised as those from regular suppliers. With so many end-of-year payments being processed, it’s easy for one to slip through unnoticed.

How to Spot the Scam:

• Slight changes to the supplier’s usual email address (e.g., .com instead of .co.uk).
• Requests for changes to bank details without prior notice.
• Unusual urgency or pressure to pay quickly.

Stay Safe:
Establish a clear payment process, including verifying any changes in supplier details directly via phone or a known email address.

Gift Card Scams

Whether for staff incentives or personal gifts, scammers love using gift cards as a quick, untraceable way to steal money. They often impersonate senior staff, requesting urgent purchases of gift cards via email or text.

How to Spot the Scam:

• Emails or texts claiming to be from your boss but sent from a personal account.
• Unusual urgency, e.g., “I need these cards in the next hour for an important client.”
• A lack of context or specifics about the request.

Stay Safe:
Verify requests for gift card purchases directly with the individual, and remind staff never to act on such messages without proper checks.

Top Tips for Staying Safe This Holiday Season

• Educate Your Team: Share examples of recent scams with your staff to keep everyone informed.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding an extra layer of security to your business accounts is a simple but effective way to prevent unauthorised access.
• Keep Software Updated: Ensure all systems, including antivirus software, are up-to-date.
• Be Suspicious of Unusual Requests: Whether it’s a sudden invoice or a request for gift cards, pause and verify.
• Use Strong Passwords: Avoid using the same password across multiple platforms, and consider using a password manager.

While the holidays should be a time of joy, cybercriminals are always on the lookout for ways to exploit us. By staying vigilant and adopting a few proactive measures, you can protect yourself, your business, and your staff.

If you’d like help tightening up your business’s cybersecurity this festive season, get in touch with LP Networks. Our friendly team is here to help ensure your business remains safe, so you can focus on enjoying the holidays.

Happy (and secure) holidays from all of us at LP Networks!