How to Stay Cyber Safe This Holiday Season

During the holidays, most people’s minds are pulled in a thousand different directions, from choosing the perfect gifts to cooking meals for their families and planning where to celebrate. Amidst all the excitement and joy, however, cybercriminals are lurking and waiting for someone to make one small mistake. With more people shopping online instead of going to stores to score holiday deals in 2024, scammers are working harder than ever this year to craft sophisticated digital schemes to try and trick unsuspecting shoppers. From phishing emails and texts to fake charity requests, these holiday scams can quickly ruin your festive spirit if you aren’t careful. That’s why this year our team at Workplace IT wants to help you stay cyber safe this holiday season.

Common Holiday Cyber Scams

Cybercriminals use a variety of tacts to exploit consumers during the holidays, and if you’ve read our other articles on cybersecurity, then you will know that cyber scams are on the rise, so in this article, we are going to provide you with the most common holiday scams to watch out for in 2024 to stay cyber safe.

1. Phishing Emails/Texts and Fake Websites

The first cyber attack to watch out for is phishing emails or texts, claiming there are issues with an order that was made, a package that can’t be delivered, flash deals, or messages that look like they are coming from a major brand like Walmart or Amazon. The message will usually ask you to click on a link to resolve the issue, but only click on the links if you are positive they are authentic. Typically, these links can lead you to a page that looks real but is fraudulent and designed to steal your personal or financial information. In fact, over 64% of Americans report receiving these types of messages through their emails and texting apps, and 59% have received fake delivery notifications during the holiday season.

2. Gift Card Scams

The second scam you should look out for is gift card fraud. These scams have become increasingly widespread, with cybercriminals impersonating close friends, family members, or even your boss, and once they gain your trust, they will urgently try to get you to buy them gift cards. These scams often ask for the gift card to be sent electronically and straight to the recipient, making it harder to trace the fraud. Gift cards are something you should especially look out for this holiday season because they are untraceable and as good as cash, providing a low-risk way for scammers to steal your money.

3. Fake Charity Solicitations

Another way that cyber criminals can target you this year is through fake charity solicitations. As many people donate to charities around this time, scammers often try to exploit the goodwill of unsuspecting people by pretending to be volunteers at real organizations that you would be familiar with. By using appeals to help children in need or for other important causes, these criminals can often pressure victims into donating quickly. Reports show that these types of scams surge by over 33% during the holidays. To avoid being a victim, verify with the charity that the volunteer is real, and most often, choose to donate directly to a charity through their official website and not over the phone or through email.

4. AI-Generated Deepfakes

With AI becoming more prevalent and advanced, it has become easier for cyber criminals to create deepfakes that sound real, including voice recordings and even videos impersonating someone you trust. These tools can manipulate victims into revealing personal or financial information. This new threat can be especially dangerous because by making it seem like it’s really someone you trust, they can exploit you by pretending to be a family member in distress, saying they lost their wallet and need you to send them money. This makes them a growing concern during the holidays.

5. Social Media Shopping Scams

The last cyber threat we will touch base on is social media shopping scams. With millions of Americans shopping through platforms like Facebook and TikTok, scammers have new opportunities to target people. With accounts being free to make, scammers can make thousands of accounts and promote fraudulent ads that feature fake products or discounts that are better than anywhere else around, tricking users into making purchases from untrustworthy sellers. This is becoming an increasingly significant problem because 83% of Gen Z consumers say they start their holiday shopping on social media, and 35% of Americans who buy from ads on social media report falling victim to fraudulent sellers.

How to Protect Yourself This Holiday Season

Now that we’ve reviewed the top scams to watch out for, it’s time to review how you can stay cyber-safe this holiday season. Keep reading below to learn what you need to do to stay protected.

1. Pause Before Clicking: Don’t trust every email or text that you see come through your accounts. Verify messages are coming from who they say they are coming from before clicking any links. Also, instead of simply following the links sent to you in the message, go to the company’s official websites to check deals or update your account.
2. Use Security Tools: If your computer doesn’t have an antivirus, consider installing one to help you stay protected from cybercriminals. If you have an IT provider, use them as a resource to ensure emails are safe and legitimate.
3. Be Skeptical of Unbelievable Deals: Most shoppers today know what items usually cost, so if you see an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often use deals that are better than you’ve ever seen before to entice victims.
4. Educate Friends and Family: Share the information we provided today with your family and friends so that they know about common scams, especially if they are less tech-savvy individuals. Raising awareness about potential scams can help you keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday season.

Final Thoughts

As the 2024 Holiday season starts to come in full swing, the last thing you want to happen is to fall victim to a cyber scam. With these scams becoming more sophisticated with the rise of AI, staying informed and cautious is your best defense. By recognizing common scams and implementing our tips to keep yourself protected above, you can enjoy the festivities with peace of mind, knowing you’re protected from scammers.

If you’re a business, non-profit, or other organization, consider how managed IT services from Workplace IT Management can bolster your cybersecurity year-round. Our team can provide security solutions tailored to your needs. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about our services.