5 Holiday Cyber Threats That Target Small Businesses (and How You Can Help Stop Them)

The holidays bring increased sales and opportunity for small businesses - but they also attract cybercriminals who thrive on seasonal rush and distraction. Use this guide to spot five common holiday threats and the practical steps to help shut them down.

Picture this: your busiest week of the year, order volume peaking, phones ringing, and a bunch of PTOs - exactly when attackers may see an opportunity to strike. The month of December typically experiences elevated ransomware activity, and holiday-themed phishing spikes dramatically as inboxes fill with shipping notices and promotions. In fact, December 2024 saw the highest number of ransomware attacks recorded in a single month since 2021.

Staying vigilant now can help you protect revenue, reputation, and customer trust when it matters most.

1. Phishing Scams Disguised as Holiday Deals

Holiday inboxes are noisy - attackers can disguise themselves as promos, shipping updates, year‑end invoices, and “urgent” password resets that look convincing at a glance. Many of these scammers lure clicks to credential-harvesting pages or drop malware. During peak shopping periods, retail-themed phishing can surge as criminals capitalize on urgency and fatigue.

What It Looks Like:

• Emails claiming there's a problem with a delivery or package
• Messages offering unbelievable holiday discounts
• Fake "urgent" password reset notifications
• Holiday e-cards with malicious attachments

These emails often contain links to fake websites that can steal your login credentials or download malware onto your system. In 2024, phishing attacks mimicking major US retail brands increased by more than 2,000% during peak shopping periods.

How to Help Stop It:

• Train your team to scrutinize every email, especially during busy periods. If something feels off, it probably is.
• Hover over links before clicking to check if the URL matches the legitimate sender’s website or domain.
• Never click links in unexpected emails. Instead, go directly to the website by typing the address yourself.
• Use email filtering and security tools that can spot and quarantine suspicious messages.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all business accounts so stolen passwords alone won't grant access.

2. Gift Card Fraud

Gift cards are easy to resell and hard to trace, which makes them a favorite target. Losses tied to gift card scams are a recurring holiday pattern, as highlighted by the FBI.

What It Looks Like:

• Physical cards with scratched-off or replaced activation stickers
• Phishing emails or texts claiming you've "won" free gift cards
• Fake discount codes for gift card purchases
• Scammers posing as vendors or officials demanding payment via gift cards

Americans lost nearly $217 million to gift card scams in 2023 alone, and the problem has become so severe that federal agencies have issued warnings specifically about holiday gift card fraud.

How to Help Stop It:

• If you sell gift cards, inspect packaging regularly and keep cards in locked displays or behind the counter.
• Purchase gift cards only from authorized, reputable stores.
• Check for signs of tampering - scratches, exposed PINs, or loose packaging.
• Never pay for business expenses or "urgent fees" with gift cards. Legitimate businesses don't operate this way.
• Keep receipts to dispute fraudulent charges if a card is compromised.

3. Ransomware Attacks During Reduced Staffing

Ransomeware attackers time intrusions for weekends and holidays when response is slowed. In fact,  86% of ransomware victims are targeted on weekends or holidays, when most people aren’t at work.

What It Looks Like:

• Files suddenly become encrypted and inaccessible
• A ransom note appears demanding cryptocurrency payment
• Critical business systems go offline during your busiest season
• Customer data becomes locked or exposed

How to Help Stop It:

• Back up your data regularly and store backups offline or in isolated cloud storage.
• Test your backups to help ensure they actually work when you need them.
• Keep all software and systems patched and updated.
• Consider managed cybersecurity services that provide 24/7 monitoring even when your team is off.
• Create a ransomware incident response plan and make sure someone knows how to execute it during holidays.
• The FBI advises against paying ransom, as payment doesn't guarantee data recovery and funds future attacks.

4. Fake Order Tracking and Delivery Scams

Texts and emails posing as major delivery carriers claim “delivery failed” or “confirm address,” luring users to credential traps or malware. Shoppers also get pulled into non‑delivery scams, paying for items that never ship, driven by social ads and look‑alike sites. These scams spike with shipping volume.


What It Looks Like:

• Text messages about failed deliveries you weren't expecting
• Emails with tracking links that lead to phishing sites
• Requests to pay additional "shipping fees" or "customs charges"
• Messages asking you to "update your delivery preferences"

How to Help Stop It:

• Don't click links in unexpected shipping notifications. Go directly to the carrier's official website or app.
• Verify tracking numbers independently through official channels.
• Be skeptical of messages about packages you didn't order.
• Train employees to report suspicious delivery messages rather than clicking through.
• Use official retailer apps to track legitimate business orders.

5. Brand‑Impersonation and Fake Storefronts

Criminals can clone storefronts, buy ads, and register look‑alike domains to skim credentials and payments. These operations confuse customers and can cause damage to real brands, especially small businesses without brand monitoring in place. Threat researchers report notable surges in retail impersonation around Black Friday and Christmas.

What It Looks Like:

• Fraudulent websites with URLs that are one letter off from legitimate sites (like "amazan.com")
• Social media ads promoting incredible deals that lead to fake storefronts
• Sellers on marketplaces offering hot items at suspiciously low prices, then disappearing after payment
• Fake tracking links sent via text message that download malware when clicked

How to Help Stop It:

• Monitor for fraudulent domains and social media accounts impersonating your brand. Use trademark monitoring services if possible.
• Register common misspellings of your domain name to prevent squatters.
• Educate customers on how to verify they're on your legitimate website (check for HTTPS, correct spelling, etc.).
• Display trust signals prominently on your site: SSL certificates, security badges, clear return policies, and physical business addresses.
• Use verified payment processors that offer fraud protection for both you and your customers.
• If you discover impersonation, report it immediately to the hosting provider, social media platform, and law enforcement.

Holiday Security Checklist for Small Businesses

The reality is simple: cybercriminals don't take holiday breaks, and neither should your security efforts. Don't let cybercriminals steal your holiday success. Protecting your business doesn't mean turning into a full-time cybersecurity expert. Here are some practical steps you can take to help protect your small business this holiday season:

• Security training for all staff, including seasonal hires
• Backup systems tested and verified
• Multi-factor authentication enabled across all critical systems
• Software and systems fully patched and updated
• Monitoring and response capabilities confirmed for holiday periods
• Incident response plan documented and accessible
• Access permissions reviewed and limited to least privilege
• Email filtering and anti-phishing tools active and updated

The Bottom Line

Holiday cyber risk isn’t theoretical, it’s seasonal, predictable, and can be mitigated with a few focused steps taken before the rush begins. Train people, harden access, test recovery, and keep eyes on alerts while your teams are away. A handful of practical controls can help protect year‑end momentum and the customer trust you’ve built all year.

Need Help Securing Your Business This Holiday Season?

The holidays are stressful enough without worrying about cyberattacks. Acrisure Cyber Services specializes in helping small and mid-sized businesses protect themselves during peak vulnerability periods - and all year round.

We can help you with:

• Complimentary cybersecurity risk assessments to identify your vulnerabilities
• 24/7 monitoring and response services to help detect threats even when you're closed
• Security awareness training for your entire team
• Incident response planning and support
• Access to cyber insurance solutions

Don't wait until after the holidays to address security gaps. Reach out to [email protected] for a no-obligation consultation, or visit acrisure.com/cyber to learn how we can help you have a safe and profitable holiday season.

_{Cyber insurance policies are placed by Acrisure, LLC and/or its insurance producer affiliates.  The non-insurance cybersecurity and related cyber services described are provided by Acrisure Cyber Services, LLC, an affiliate of Acrisure, LLC.}