Stay Protected Against Holiday Donation Scams

To keep your business safe in an environment of escalating digital threats, a reactive stance is no longer sufficient—you must be proactive. This is especially true during the holiday season, a period when cybercriminals intensify their efforts, knowing your team is distracted by year-end goals and a surge in online activity. Their methods are not simple; they use highly sophisticated, socially-engineered tactics designed to create panic and bypass standard security. Therefore, empowering your employees with knowledge is your most critical line of defense. Here are five sophisticated holiday scams your team must be trained to spot before they are tricked into an action that could compromise your entire network's security.

1. “Your Boss Needs Gift Cards” (The Text Trap)

   • The Scam: Impostors impersonate executives to pressure staff into buying gift cards for "clients" or "employee appreciation."

   • Proactive Defense: Establish a clear company policy: No gift cards without two verbal approvals. Executives will never request them via text or email.

     
     

2. Invoice & Payment Switch-Ups (The Big Money Play)

   • The Scam: Fraudsters send "updated banking details" or hijack vendor email threads right when year-end bills are due, leading to fraudulent wire transfers.

   • Proactive Defense: Implement a strict “phone call rule” for all financial changes over a set threshold (e.g., $5,000). Always confirm banking changes using a known phone number, never one in the suspect email.

     
     

3. Fake Shipping & Delivery Notices

   • The Scam: Phishing emails or texts pose as UPS, FedEx, or USPS with malicious links to "reschedule delivery."

   • Proactive Defense: Train staff to type the carrier’s site directly into the browser and bookmark official tracking pages to avoid clickbait links.

     
     

4. Malicious “Holiday Party” Attachments

   • The Scam: Emails arrive with attachments like “Holiday_Schedule.pdf” or “Party_List.xls” that install malware when opened.

   • Proactive Defense: Make verifying unexpected files part of your security culture. Ensure your systems block macros and scan attachments automatically.

     
     

5. Bogus Holiday Fundraisers

   • The Scam: Phishing sites mimic well-known charities or fake "company match" campaigns to steal money or data.

   • Proactive Defense: Circulate an approved charity list and require that all employee donations flow through official, vetted portals.

     
     

Your Proactive Holiday Defense Checklist

Sophisticated attacks blend social engineering with research on your company, exploiting your efficient business tools like email and online banking. You need to be responsive and secure.

Here’s a quick, practical checklist to level up your defenses and stop cybercriminals:

• The Two-Person Rule: Any transaction above your set threshold requires verbal confirmation through a separate, known communication channel.

  
  

• Gift Card Policy: Put it in writing: No gift card purchases will be requested via email or text.

  
  

• Vendor Verification: Confirm all banking or payment changes by phone using a number already on file, demonstrating a trustworthy process.
  

• Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA on all email, banking, and cloud accounts. This simple step blocks 99% of unauthorized logins.
  

• Holiday Awareness Training: Brief your team on these five scams with real-world examples to ensure they are prepared.
  

Ready for IT Hassle-Free Security?

The best gift you can give your business this holiday season is peace of mind. Don't wait for a security incident to disrupt your future—reach out to CETech today.