Three Holiday Scams Businesses Need to Watch Out For This Season In 2025

As the holiday period approaches, cybercriminals become more active. With teams busier, staff covering leave, and seasonal goodwill creating a more relaxed atmosphere, attackers take advantage of the distraction. This makes the weeks leading up to Christmas a high-risk period for scams designed to trick employees into handing over money, data or system access.

Here are three common scams businesses should be aware of, along with how a capable MSP can help reduce the risk.

1. The Gift Card Scam

This remains one of the most widespread holiday scams. Criminals impersonate a senior executive and urgently ask an employee to buy gift cards for clients or internal rewards. They insist the request is confidential and often add time pressure to stop the employee thinking it through.

Once the gift card codes are sent, the money is gone.

How to prevent it:
Create clear internal policies that gift card purchases will never be requested via email or messaging tools. Encourage staff to verify any unusual financial request directly with the person supposedly making it.

2. Fake Delivery Notifications and Shipping Scams

With delivery volumes increasing in December, attackers send fake courier emails claiming a parcel is delayed, requires payment, or has incorrect details. These messages often look legitimate and link to phishing sites designed to steal credentials or install malware.

How to prevent it:
Train staff to avoid clicking unexpected delivery links. Verify tracking numbers through the courier’s official site rather than via email prompts.

3. Charity and Seasonal Donation Fraud

During the holiday season, businesses receive more requests for charitable donations. Attackers exploit this by impersonating well-known charities or creating entirely fake ones, often sending fraudulent invoices or emotionally charged requests.

How to prevent it:
Centralise donation approvals. Encourage employees to cross-check requests with official charity websites before taking action.

How a Trusted MSP Helps Mitigate These Risks

While employee awareness is essential, partnering with a capable MSP significantly strengthens your overall defence. A good MSP provides layered protection, clear processes and active monitoring to reduce the likelihood of these scams succeeding.

Here’s how:

Security awareness training
Your MSP can deliver ongoing training that keeps staff alert to scams, especially during high-risk periods.

Advanced email filtering and threat detection
MSPs deploy tools that block phishing emails, spoofed domains and known malicious links before they ever reach an employee’s inbox.

Stronger access controls and policies
From multifactor authentication to role-based permissions, an MSP helps ensure that even if an employee is targeted, the attacker cannot easily gain access.

Rapid incident response
If something looks suspicious, your MSP can investigate immediately, limiting damage and preventing escalation.

Clear processes for financial and data requests
A strong MSP helps your organisation implement policies and workflows so employees know exactly how to verify unusual requests.

Staying Safe Through the Holiday Season

Seasonal scams rely on speed, distraction and human error. With the right mix of awareness, strong technical controls and support from a trusted MSP, businesses can reduce their risk significantly.

As cybercriminals become more coordinated and opportunistic during the festive period, having an experienced MSP beside you is one of the most effective ways to keep your organisation protected.