Ah, Christmas! The season of mince pies, Mariah Carey, and a spike in traffic for your online business. But while you’re focused on end-of-year deals and deliveries, scammers are lurking like Harry and Marv in Home Alone.
But don’t worry, with our tips, you’ll have your defences set – just like young Kevin – ready to enjoy a worry-free Christmas. Here are six seasonal scams and how to spot them…
Fake delivery emails
You’re fielding holiday deliveries and monitoring order statuses when – bam! – you’re hit with an email flagging a “delivery issue.” Scammers know that during the festive season, businesses are tracking deliveries like hawks. These emails mimic well-known services like Royal Mail, DPD, or Amazon, but their real aim is to get you to click on malicious links or download malware.
Fasthosts recommends: Always double-check the sender’s email address and don’t click on suspicious links. If in doubt, visit the courier’s official site directly to track deliveries.
Christmas eCards
Who doesn’t love a festive eCard? They’re fun, eco-friendly, and an easy way to spread Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, scammers love them too. Cybercriminals send out eCards loaded with malware, ready to infect your device once you click to “open” the card. What starts as a heartwarming greeting could end with your business’ data being stolen.
Fasthosts recommends: Stick to well-known eCard providers and be wary of unexpected messages. If you’re not expecting an eCard from someone, it might be best to avoid it.
Seasonal offers
The festive season is full of irresistible deals. But while you’re pushing out promotions, scammers are setting up fake websites, offering huge discounts that seem too good to be true (spoiler alert – they usually are). These sites don’t discriminate, targeting both individuals and businesses to steal your payment details or leave you empty-handed, with no goods in sight.
Fasthosts recommends: Always double-check URLs for legitimacy (look out for the “https” and padlock symbol). You should also encourage your customers to shop directly on your website or from reputable third-party partners.
Gift card survey scams
We’re all familiar with surveys offering gift card rewards – who doesn’t love a little festive treat in exchange for their opinion? But beware, these phishing operations aren’t genuinely asking for your thoughts – they’re asking for trouble and could be loaded with malware.
Fasthosts recommends: Be sceptical of survey links that ask for personal or financial details. Genuine senders won’t ask for sensitive information in exchange for a gift card.
Charity phishing
Christmas is the season of giving, and scammers are quick to exploit this generosity. They’ll create fake charity websites or send emails that look like they’re from legitimate charities, tugging at heartstrings in the hopes of stealing donations. If your business likes to give back during the festive season, be wary.
Fasthosts recommends: Always verify the charity before donating. Stick to official websites or well-known organisations and avoid any unsolicited emails asking for donations.
Tax refund scams
Receiving an email telling you you’re owed a tax refund during the most expensive time of year? Must be a Christmas miracle! Unfortunately, it might actually be a digital grinch trying to encourage you to click through and provide sensitive information under the guise of claiming a refund. The only thing you’ll be claiming here is a cyber headache.
Fasthosts recommends: HMRC will never ask for payment details via email. If you receive one of these emails, delete it, and always go through official government channels to check on tax updates.
Deck the halls while defending your data
Now that you’re up to speed with how scammers are targeting businesses this Christmas, it’s time to take action. Powered by Acronis, Fasthosts Cyber Protect offers a full suite of tools to help keep your business safe from cybercriminals. Whether it’s phishing emails, fake websites, or malicious eCards, we’ve got your back with proactive protection and expert advice. Give us a call on 0800 0612 153 to safeguard your online presence this season.
