How to Stay Safe from Holiday Phishing Scams

Understanding Holiday Phishing Scams

The holiday season brings higher online sales, last-minute shopping, travel confirmations and donation requests. It also brings an annual spike in phishing attempts. Holiday phishing scams are fraudulent emails, texts or websites designed to trick people into sharing sensitive information, sending money or clicking unsafe links. These messages often imitate familiar brands, package carriers or charities to create a sense of trust.

Small businesses, nonprofits and local governments are especially vulnerable this time of year. Teams are busy, staff may be in and out of the office and decisions are made quickly. Attackers count on that. Still, with the right habits and awareness, your organization can stay safe without stress or constant worry.

Why Seasonal Scams Increase

During the holidays, people are more likely to click without thinking, especially when messages appear related to shopping or end-of-year responsibilities. Attackers craft messages that blend into the noise of the season. These often include order confirmations, shipping updates or warnings about account activity. In many cases, the messages look polished enough that a quick glance feels convincing.

Another challenge is volume. During November and December, the average person receives more promotional messages than any other time of year. When your inbox is full of sales and shipping notices, one more alert feels normal. That familiarity is what attackers use to slip in unnoticed.

Organizations also face more internal movement during this season. Temporary staff, vacation schedules, community events and year-end reporting all shift routines. Any change in routine increases risk. When people are busy, fast decisions can override cautious ones.

Common Holiday Phishing Scams and Tactics

Scammers reuse tactics that work and adapt them each year. The most frequent approaches during the holidays include:

Fake Delivery or Tracking Notices

Emails or texts claim a package needs updated delivery information, payment of a small fee or verification of identity. They often reference well-known carriers. The link directs users to a fake login page designed to harvest passwords or payment information.

Imposter Online Stores

Some websites appear to offer significant discounts on popular items, but the products never ship. In many cases, the website copies a legitimate retailer’s layout, giving the illusion of trust. The checkout process then collects card details or login credentials.

Gift Card and Donation Scams

Attackers may pose as a supervisor, board member or community leader asking for urgent gift card purchases or last-minute donations. The message is designed to feel personal, often using familiar names or signatures gathered online.

Seasonal Job or Volunteer Scams

Organizations hiring or seeking volunteers around the holidays may receive applications or inquiries that include unsafe attachments or malicious links. These often disguise themselves as resumes, onboarding forms or confirmation documents.

Holiday Event Invitations

Fake calendars, e-cards or digital invitations can include links or attachments that install harmful software. Many of these messages encourage clicking by referencing workplace celebrations or community gatherings.

How to Recognize these Holiday Phishing Scams

Even well-designed phishing attempts have subtle signs. If a message feels slightly off, take a moment to check for the following:

1. Unexpected requests for payment, especially gift cards or peer-to-peer transfers

2. Slight changes in the sender’s address or organization name

3. Poor grammar, unusual formatting or mismatched logos

4. Links that redirect to unfamiliar domains

5. Messages that emphasize urgency or immediate action

6. Requests for account credentials or personal information

A helpful habit is to ask yourself whether you initiated the conversation. If you didn’t order anything, didn’t request a password reset or weren’t expecting a document, treat the message with caution.

Steps Every Organization Should Take Now

You don’t need a complicated security overhaul to reduce risk. Small, consistent steps create strong protection. Use this practical list to keep teams safe during the holiday rush:

• Set clear expectations for internal communication. Staff should know how supervisors and departments will request purchases, donations or account updates. This prevents attackers from exploiting confusion.
• Encourage a “pause and verify” culture. If something feels off, team members should check with a colleague or use official contact information instead of replying.
• Review access to financial accounts and be sure only authorized individuals can make holiday-season transactions.
• Implement multi-factor authentication on important systems. Even if someone accidentally shares a password, MFA adds a layer of defense.
• Make sure software, browsers and devices are updated before the end-of-year rush. Updates fix known vulnerabilities that attackers look for.

What To Do If Someone Clicks by Mistake

No one is immune to phishing attempts. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s preparation. If a team member clicks a suspicious link, opens an unsafe attachment or shares information they shouldn’t have, respond with calm and clarity. Acting quickly can minimize impact.

Start by changing the affected account passwords and enabling MFA if it wasn’t already active. If the message involved payment information, contact the financial institution right away to flag the transaction. Review recent account activity for anything unusual and document what happened so your IT provider can investigate effectively.

Encourage staff to report incidents immediately, even if they feel embarrassed. A supportive environment leads to faster reporting and better outcomes. When people understand that mistakes can happen to anyone, they are more likely to speak up quickly.

Why This Matters for Small Businesses and Local Organizations

During the holidays, many organizations handle more transactions, donations and customer communications than usual. A single phishing incident can disrupt operations, delay projects or compromise client trust at the worst possible moment. For small teams, even brief downtime or confusion can ripple into lost productivity.

Still, strong security doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Reliable protection comes from steady habits, not fear. Clear communication, consistent processes and trusted support help your team make informed decisions with confidence. When people understand the reasons behind safe practices, they are more likely to follow them.

How Keystone Supports You

At Keystone, we design security with your people in mind. Tools are important, but habits, education and steady guidance make the real difference. We help organizations build practices that reduce risk all year, especially during busy seasons. Whether you need phishing training, account hardening, policy support or long-term planning, we partner with you to keep systems reliable and easy to manage.

Our goal is simple: fewer surprises, stronger protection and a team that feels confident using technology. When your staff can focus on serving customers, donors or community members without worrying about scams, your organization stays productive and resilient.

Quick Answers

What makes these holiday phishing scams different from other phishing attempts?
Attackers tailor messages to match seasonal patterns like shipping alerts, donations or year-end tasks. The increase in communication during the holidays makes it easier for fake messages to blend in.

How can I help staff avoid gift card scams?
Create a clear policy stating that leadership will never request gift cards through text or email. When expectations are documented, suspicious messages stand out immediately.

Are text-message scams more common during the holidays?
Yes. Many delivery and account-verification scams appear as texts because people expect package updates. Encourage staff to verify tracking through official websites instead of using links in messages.

Should we train staff every holiday season?
A brief reminder each year is helpful. As tactics evolve, staying aware of new patterns supports better decision-making.

At Keystone, we don’t just manage IT—we execute. We ensure smooth transitions, rock-solid security, and maximum efficiency so your business can thrive. Let us handle the complexity of IT while you stay focused on what matters most—growing your business.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see how Keystone delivers results you can trust.