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holiday web safety

 

As we approach the holiday season, cybercriminals significantly increase their activities, taking advantage of the busy shopping period and festive atmosphere. We want to ensure everyone stays safe both at work and at home during this time.

Why Holiday Scams Increase

During the holidays, we're all:

  • Shopping online more frequently
  • Expecting multiple package deliveries
  • Distracted by seasonal activities
  • More likely to click on "urgent" deals
  • Making charitable donations

Scammers exploit these behaviors to steal personal information, money, and credentials.

Most Common Holiday Scams

General Best Practices for Holiday Safety

Shopping Online:

  • ✅ Use strong, unique passwords for each shopping account
  • ✅ Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible
  • ✅ Shop on secure websites (look for "https://" and the padlock icon)
  • ✅ Use credit cards instead of debit cards for better fraud protection
  • ✅ Monitor your bank and credit card statements regularly
  • ✅ Keep software and apps updated on all devices

Email and Communication:

  • ✅ Think before you click any link
  • ✅ Verify the sender's email address carefully
  • ✅ Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking
  • ✅ When in doubt, go directly to the website instead of clicking links
  • ✅ Report suspicious emails to IT immediately

Personal Information:

  • ✅ Never provide sensitive information in response to unsolicited requests
  • ✅ Be cautious about what you share on social media
  • ✅ Shred documents containing personal information
  • ✅ Use different passwords for different accounts
  • ✅ Don't share account passwords with anyone

What To Do If You Think You've Been Scammed

Immediate actions:

  1. Stop communication with the scammer immediately
  2. Contact your bank or credit card company if you provided financial information
  3. Change passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised
  4. Report it to IT if it involves work email or systems
  5. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports if personal information was stolen

For work-related incidents:

  • Report immediately to IT
  • Don't be embarrassed—quick reporting helps prevent further damage

The holidays should be a time of joy, not stress from scams. By staying vigilant and following these guidelines, you can protect yourself, your family, and our organization.