Top 5 Christmas Cyber Scams

While cyber scams persist throughout the year, Christmas brings a spike in attacks as fraudsters take advantage of busy and distracted shoppers.

Top 5 Christmas Cyber Scams

1. Fake Delivery Emails

As parcel deliveries surge before Christmas, scammers impersonate courier services, sending emails about missed deliveries. These messages often include urgent warnings about delayed parcels and links to phishing websites or malware downloads.

2. Malicious Christmas eCards

While eCards are popular and eco-friendly, cybercriminals use them as traps. Clicking on a fake eCard link could download spyware, adware, or even Trojans. Look out for unknown senders, spelling errors, suspicious links, or files ending in “.exe.”

3. Seasonal Offers Too Good to Be True

Festive discounts can be hard to resist, but beware of fake promotional websites mimicking popular brands. These sites harvest personal data under the guise of holiday sales.

4. Gift Card Survey Scams

Scammers create fake giveaway pages claiming to be from well-known brands. Victims are asked to like and share promotions, then complete surveys requesting sensitive personal information.

5. Charity Phishing Scams

Fraudsters set up fake charity websites to exploit Christmas goodwill. Always donate directly through verified charity websites, not through email links.

How to Stay Safe

  • Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown sources.

  • Verify website security before entering personal details.

  • Watch for inconsistencies in email addresses and poor grammar.

  • Be cautious with urgent or threatening messages.

  • Use strong passwords and install anti-virus software.