Summary
During the holiday season, be aware of an increase in phishing emails, texts, and phone calls. Stay diligent and alert to potential scams, as cybercriminal activity tends to spike during this time. This article lists the top 10 key red flags to look out for in phishing emails, text messages, and phone calls.
Body
During the holiday season, be aware of an increase in phishing emails, texts, and phone calls. Stay diligent and alert to potential scams, as cybercriminal activity tends to spike during this time.
Here are the most common indicators of a phishing attempt to look out for in emails, text messages, and phone calls.
Top 10 Phishing Red Flags to Watch For
1. Too Good to Be True” Holiday Deals
- Unrealistic discounts or gift card offers
- Free items if you “click to claim
- Flash sales urging immediate action
2. Fake Shipping or Delivery Notices
- Emails claiming issues with UPS, FedEx, USPS, Amazon, etc.
- “Track your package” links you weren’t expecting
- Attachments labeled invoice, delivery notice, or shipping label
3. Gift Card Scams
- Fake gift card activation emails
- Messages saying someone sent you a digital holiday card or gift
- Requests asking you to buy, verify, or redeem gift cards
4. Charity Scams
- Emails pretending to be well-known charities asking for holiday donations
- Requests to donate through unusual payment methods
- Poor grammar or mismatched sender details
5. Order Confirmation” for Something You Didn’t Buy
- Fake receipts, invoices, or confirmations
- Designed to make you click “View order” or “Cancel order”
6. Urgent or Emotional Language
- Your package will be returned!
- Account will be locked in 24 hours!
- You must verify your holiday rewards!
Attackers use urgency to bypass critical thinking.
7. Look-alike Domains
- Slightly misspelled brand names (e.g., amaz0n.com, paypaI.com)
- Sender address not matching the company name
- Hovering over links shows suspicious URLs
8. Unexpected Attachments
- ZIP files, PDFs, Doc files from unknown senders
- Files claiming to be shipping labels, receipts, or holiday coupons
9. Secret Santa” or Workplace Holiday Gifts
- Fake HR or internal messages
- Links to “sign up for your holiday gift exchange”
- Requests for personal info or login details
10. Mismatched Brand Logos or Poor Formatting
- Blurry logos, broken formatting, unusual fonts
- Generic greetings like “Dear customer” instead of your name
Stay Vigilant
Please take your time when reading emails. There’s no harm in opening or reviewing them, but the actions you take, such as clicking links or opening attachments, can lead to harmful outcomes. Always proceed with caution.