As the holiday season ramps up, so does cybercrime.

Last December, an accounts payable clerk at a midsize company received a message from her “CEO.” The request? Buy $3,000 worth of Apple gift cards for clients, scratch off the codes, and e-mail them. It was a hectic time of year, and the message looked legit. But it wasn’t. By the time she confirmed the request, the cards were gone and the scammer had cashed out.

That’s not just a holiday headache—it’s a costly breach.

But that loss pales in comparison to what happened to Orion S.A., a global chemical manufacturer based in Luxembourg. In the same month, they were hit by a sophisticated business e-mail compromise (BEC) attack. Fraudsters mimicked trusted internal communications, submitting fake wire transfer requests that looked entirely routine.

By the time the dust settled, cybercriminals had siphoned off over $60 million—more than half of Orion’s annual profits.

And here’s the kicker: These attacks are happening all the time.

📊 The Data Doesn’t Lie

• In 2023 alone, businesses lost over $217 million to gift card scams.
• Business e-mail compromise accounted for 73% of all cyber incidents in 2024.
• The average loss per BEC incident? $129,000.

And the holidays are prime time. With employees distracted, vendors busy, and inboxes overflowing, cybercriminals know this is their moment.

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🎄 5 Holiday Scams Your Team Needs to Watch For

1. The “CEO Gift Card” Text Trap

• The Scam: Fraudsters pose as leadership and request gift cards “urgently” for clients or staff bonuses.
• The Fix: Enforce a written policy: No gift cards without dual approval. Make clear leadership will never make such requests over text or e-mail.

2. Vendor Payment Swaps

• The Scam: Fake “updated banking info” shows up in a legitimate-looking e-mail thread, often when invoices are due.
• Real-World Example: In June 2024, the Town of Arlington, MA, lost nearly $445,000 to a vendor impersonation attack.
• The Fix: Verify banking changes via a phone call—using a number you already have, not the one in the e-mail.

3. Fake Delivery Notifications

• The Scam: Employees receive “missed delivery” e-mails or texts with malware links pretending to be from FedEx, UPS, or USPS.
• The Fix: Bookmark official carrier sites. Never click delivery links in messages—type in the site yourself.

4. Malicious Holiday Party Invites

• The Scam: E-mails with files like “Holiday_Event.pdf” or “Bonus_Schedule.xls” that carry malware.
• The Fix: Train employees to verify unusual files, block macros, and scan attachments automatically.

5. Fraudulent Charity Campaigns

• The Scam: Fake fundraisers, lookalike websites, or “company match” phishing campaigns prey on generosity.
• The Fix: Provide a pre-approved charity list and ensure all donations go through official company platforms.

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🧠 Why These Scams Work (and How to Block Them)

Scammers don’t rely on luck—they use strategy and psychology.

They exploit:

• Social engineering (urgency, authority, trust)
• Busy end-of-year workflows
• Overreliance on e-mail for sensitive transactions

The most effective defenses are simple:

✅ Run phishing simulations
✅ Enable multifactor authentication (MFA)
✅ Train staff with real-world examples
✅ Use layered security—not just antivirus

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✅ Your Holiday Cybersecurity Checklist

• Two-Person Rule: Require verbal verification on all high-value transactions.
• Gift Card Policy: Put your rules in writing—no text or e-mail approvals.
• Banking Change Protocol: Call vendors directly using known numbers.
• MFA Everywhere: Email, cloud, and finance accounts should all have it.
• Team Briefing: Share these top scams in your next staff meeting.

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💸 The Hidden Costs of Holiday Hacks

A massive wire fraud like Orion’s grabs headlines, but for most small businesses, the fallout looks different—and just as dangerous:

• Operations grinding to a halt
• Staff time lost to crisis mode
• Reputation damage with customers
• Spiking insurance premiums
• Emotional and leadership strain

Even smaller breaches can destroy Q4 gains, or worse, the entire business.

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🎁 Keep Your Holidays Merry (Not Miserable)

The holidays should be a time of momentum, celebration, and connection—not damage control.

With just a few smart protections and the right team training, your business can stay secure through the busiest time of the year.

And here’s a hard truth: Multiple clients of ours have faced these scams firsthand. Some were lucky enough to recover funds. Others weren’t. The difference? Awareness, preparation, and verification.

🎯 Book your free security assessment now and we’ll help you lock down your digital doors before cybercriminals come knocking.

Schedule here: https://go.scheduleyou.in/hI54VnWs?cid=is:~Contact.Id~