Contributed by:  Shari Onda, CFCE, GCFE, GISF, GASF, Forensic Analyst

The holiday season is often filled with celebrations, gift-giving, and special online deals. But as you browse for perfect presents and send digital greetings, cybercriminals see the holidays as prime time to launch cunning scams. Seasonal phishing emails, fake shipping notices, and fraudulent gift card offers crop up every year, putting your personal and financial data at risk.

Fortunately, you can protect yourself by staying aware of common holiday-themed cyber tricks. Understanding these schemes and taking proactive steps to spot, report, and avoid them can keep your holiday shopping and digital festivities worry-free.

Why Cybercriminals Love the Holidays

When the holidays approach, online shopping hits a peak, scammers know this, and they exploit your eagerness for deals, last-minute sales, and gift card bargains. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) regularly warns that fraudsters ramp up efforts to target consumers during holiday months (FBI IC3, 2020). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also highlighted how phishing attempts—often disguised as promotional emails or urgent shipping notices—increase as we approach festive celebrations (FTC, 2020).

Gift cards, in particular, are big business for criminals. These convenient presents are easy to buy online and quick to redeem. By tricking you into revealing gift card codes, scammers can quickly drain their balances. They may pose as trusted retailers, charities, or even family members asking for “help” with a gift card purchase.

The Anatomy of a Holiday-Themed Phishing Scam

Phishing is a typical online con where criminals send fake emails or texts that look like they come from a familiar company—maybe your favorite retailer or a popular shipping service. During the holidays, these messages often feature special holiday-themed greetings or urgent calls to action, such as “Last Chance for 70% Off!” or “Your Holiday Parcel Is Delayed—Confirm Details Now!”

If you click a suspicious link, you might land on a fraudulent site that asks for your credit card details, login credentials, or gift card codes. Cybercriminals rely on rushed decision-making and seasonal excitement, hoping you won’t think twice before handing over sensitive information.

To protect yourself, take a closer look at the email before clicking anything:

1. Check the Sender’s Address:
   The sender’s email might display a familiar brand name but look closely at the full email address. If it’s a random string of characters or uses a misspelled domain, that’s a red flag. Reputable companies rarely send important communications from suspicious-looking addresses.
2. Examine Links and Attachments:
   Hover your cursor over any link to see if it leads where it claims. If the URL looks unrelated to the brand or uses strange strings of characters, don’t click. Attachments claiming to be holiday coupons or e-cards could actually be hiding malware.
3. Beware of Urgency and Pressure:
   Scammers try to create panic. Phrases like “Act Now!” or “Limited Time Offer!” may be marketing tactics, but if combined with odd sender addresses or requests for personal data, take a step back. Legitimate retailers don’t typically threaten you to “verify” gift card details in a hurry.
4. Check for Security Seals:
   While not foolproof, most legitimate shopping or account portals use HTTPS (indicated by a padlock icon next to the URL). If you’re asked to enter sensitive data on a page that isn’t secure, close the tab and contact the retailer through their official site.

Guarding Against Gift Card Scams

Gift cards have become a convenient go-to gift, but that convenience makes them prime targets for fraud. Criminals may send fake emails asking you to “confirm” a gift card number or even pose as a friend saying they’re in urgent need of a gift card due to a last-minute holiday emergency.

You can stay safe by following these simple guidelines:

1. Never Share Gift Card Details Online or by Phone:
   If someone asks for your gift card number and PIN in an email, text, or unexpected call, it’s likely a scam. Once a criminal has these details, they can drain the card’s balance instantly.
2. Purchase Gift Cards from Trusted Sources:
   Stick to official retailer websites or store locations. Avoid discounted gift card offers on unfamiliar websites—if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Check Gift Card Packaging:
   If buying gift cards in a store, inspect them for signs of tampering, such as exposed PINs or altered packaging. Fraudsters sometimes scratch off protective coverings to record numbers before the card is sold.
4. Track Redemptions and Balances:
   Keep receipts and consider registering your gift card with the retailer if that option is available. By monitoring balances, you can quickly spot if funds vanish unexpectedly.

Taking Action When You Suspect a Scam

If you’ve encountered a suspicious message or feel you may have been tricked, it’s important to act promptly:

1. Stop Interacting with the Message:
   Don’t click further links or provide more information. Close the email or web page immediately.
2. Change Your Passwords:
   If you entered any login details on a suspicious site, change those passwords right away—especially if you use the same password elsewhere. The National Cybersecurity Alliance advises using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication whenever possible (NCA, 2021).
3. Contact the Brand or Retailer Directly:
   If the scammer pretended to be a known company, reach out to that company through their official website or customer service line to verify the request. Never use the contact information provided in the suspicious email.
4. Report the Incident:
   Report phishing attempts to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) at reportphishing@apwg.org. The FBI’s IC3 also accepts reports of online fraud (FBI IC3, 2020). By reporting scams, you help authorities and cybersecurity experts identify trends and protect others.

Building Your Digital Defenses Before the Holidays

Prevention is more effective than responding after something goes wrong. By strengthening your digital habits, you can reduce the risk of falling for seasonal cyber tricks:

1. Stay Informed:
   Bookmark reputable security websites or follow trusted organizations like the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to keep up with the latest scam alerts (CISA, 2021). Understanding common tactics helps you recognize red flags faster.
2. Maintain Strong Device Security:
   Keep your devices and software updated. Security patches, antivirus software, and firewalls can reduce the chances of a successful scam.
3. Be Skeptical About Unexpected Deals:
   If you receive an email offering an extraordinary holiday discount on a popular item, verify it by going directly to the retailer’s official website rather than clicking any provided links. Use search engines to confirm promotions.
4. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
   MFA adds another layer of protection to your accounts by requiring a secondary code sent to your phone or generated by an app. This helps protect you if criminals manage to steal your password.

Learning from Forensic Best Practices (For the Curious Consumer)

While you might not be a digital forensic investigator, you can learn a thing or two from their methods. Professionals rely on industry standards—like those from the Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE)—to ensure the trustworthiness of their investigations (SWGDE, 2021). By understanding some basics, you can be more discerning about suspicious emails or gift card requests:

• Corroboration Matters:
  Forensic experts cross-check evidence against reliable sources. You can do the same. Before taking action on a holiday deal emailed to you, try verifying it through a known legitimate website or call the retailer’s customer service line.
• Assess the Context:
  Investigators look at an email’s technical details, but you can simply ask yourself: does this request make sense? Would a trusted retailer demand gift card codes via email? If not, it’s likely a scam.

Embrace a Proactive, Risk-Aware Mindset

Criminals rely on catching you off-guard. By staying calm and skeptical, you reduce their chances of success. Don’t let the holiday rush push you into hasty decisions—step back and evaluate each online interaction carefully.

Educating yourself also extends to helping friends and family. Share what you’ve learned with elderly relatives who might be less familiar with digital scams or remind your children never to click on mysterious links promising free game codes. By collectively practicing good “cyber hygiene,” you create a safer environment for everyone.

References for Further Knowledge and Assistance

• FBI IC3: https://www.ic3.gov
  The Internet Crime Complaint Center provides a central reporting mechanism for online scams and offers tips on staying safe.
• FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov
  The Federal Trade Commission’s consumer site hosts valuable guidance on identifying and reporting fraud.
• CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency): https://www.cisa.gov
  Offers information about cybersecurity best practices, threats, and incident response guidelines.
• APWG (Anti-Phishing Working Group): https://apwg.org
  Dedicated to fighting phishing scams, APWG provides statistics, reports, and an email address for reporting suspicious messages.
• NCA (National Cybersecurity Alliance): https://staysafeonline.org
  Provides consumer-friendly tips on secure online behaviors, especially around passwords and MFA.
• SWGDE (Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence): https://www.swgde.org
  While technical, this resource shows how professionals ensure the credibility of digital investigations. Though aimed at experts, it can enhance your understanding of the cybersecurity ecosystem.

Conclusion: Keeping the Holidays Bright, Safe, and Scam-Free

The holidays should be a time of joy, generosity, and connection—not worry over who might be trying to trick you online. By staying informed about holiday-themed phishing emails, suspicious gift card requests, and other digital scams, you can confidently navigate your online activities. With a dose of skepticism, proper device security, and a willingness to verify before you trust, you’ll be well-prepared to keep your holiday celebrations merry, bright, and secure.