Avoiding Scams Over Christmas (Emails, Ads & Online Shopping)

Written By dan taylor

How to Avoid Scams Over Christmas: Protecting Your Business and Personal Accounts

Why Scams Spike During the Christmas Season

Christmas is the busiest time of year for cybercriminals. With people shopping online, sending digital cards, and rushing to meet deadlines, attackers take advantage of distraction and high activity.
Businesses become especially vulnerable due to:

  • Staff working remotely

  • Temporary employees with limited training

  • Increased online purchases

  • Holiday promotions

Understanding the most common Christmas scams helps you protect your business and staff during this high-risk season.

1. Christmas-Themed Phishing Emails

Scammers send festive-themed emails pretending to be:

  • Retailers

  • Delivery companies

  • Gift card suppliers

  • Charities

  • HMRC “tax refunds”

These emails use urgency and holiday excitement to trick you into:

  • Clicking malicious links

  • Entering login details

  • Downloading infected attachments

Tip: Always check the sender’s email address and never click unexpected links.

2. Fake Online Shops and Ads

During Christmas, social media and Google are flooded with ads for:

  • Unrealistically cheap tech

  • Discounted toys

  • Fake designer brands

  • “Limited time” Christmas deals

Many of these sites are fake, designed to collect payment details and deliver nothing.

Tip: Only buy from reputable retailers and check reviews before purchasing.

3. Delivery Scams

Customers wait for Christmas parcels — and scammers know it.
Common fake messages include:

  • “Your parcel is delayed”

  • “We couldn’t deliver your package”

  • “Pay £1 to release delivery”

These SMS/phishing scams spoof companies like Royal Mail, DPD, or Evri.

Tip: Always check tracking numbers directly through the official website.

4. Charity Scams

Fake charity websites appear every December. These sites tug at your heartstrings while stealing your money or payment details.

Tip: Donate through recognised, registered UK charity platforms.

5. Gift Card & Voucher Scams

Cybercriminals send emails pretending to be managers requesting gift cards urgently as “Christmas rewards”.

This scam is especially common in businesses.

Tip: Educate staff, no manager will ever ask for gift cards via email.

6. Fake Christmas Apps & Downloads

Seasonal wallpaper apps, games, or “discount codes” often contain malware.

Tip: Only download apps from official app stores.

Protect Your Business This Christmas

  • Train staff on phishing and seasonal scams

  • Use email security filtering

  • Enable MFA on all accounts

  • Update antivirus and firewalls

  • Have a backup & continuity plan ready

A few minutes of awareness can save businesses thousands.

CapNet Helps You Stay Safe Over the Festive Season

Our cybersecurity team can train your staff, secure your systems, and monitor threats throughout the Christmas period, keeping your business protected while you enjoy the holidays.

dan taylor
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