Last December, an accounts payable clerk at a midsize company got a text from her “CEO”:
“Buy $3,000 worth of Apple gift cards for clients. Scratch the backs and e-mail me the codes.”
It seemed odd but it was the holidays, things were hectic, and the message came from her boss’s name. By the time she double-checked, the cards were gone.
That scam was small compared to what hit Orion S.A., a Luxembourg-based manufacturer. One employee processed what looked like routine, urgent wire transfers right into criminal accounts. $60 million gone, more than half the company’s annual profits.
Think your CPA, legal, or manufacturing business isn’t a target? Think again. Gift-card scams alone cost U.S. businesses $217 million in 2023, and 73% of cyber incidents in 2024 came from business e-mail compromise (BEC) scams.
During the holidays, scammers know your team is distracted, stressed, and moving fast. That’s when mistakes happen.
5 Holiday Scams Your Employees Need To Know (Before They Cost You Thousands)
Protect your Houston business with Cybersecurity Services and Managed IT Services that train your team to recognize these scams.
- “Your Boss Needs Gift Cards” (The $3,000 Text Trap)
The scam: Impostors pose as owners or managers and pressure staff to buy gift cards for “clients” or “employee appreciation.” In Q1 2024, 37.9% of BEC scams involved gift cards.
Prevention: Company policy = no gift cards without two approvals. Train employees that executives will never request them via text.
- Invoice & Payment Switch-Ups (The Big Money Scam)
The scam: Fraudsters hijack e-mail threads and send “updated” banking info. The Town of Arlington, MA lost nearly $500,000 this way.
Prevention: Always confirm new payment details by phone using known numbers.
- Fake Shipping & Delivery Scams
The scam: Phishing texts or e-mails pose as UPS or FedEx with links to “reschedule delivery.”
Prevention: Type carrier URLs manually or use saved bookmarks to avoid malicious links.
- Malicious “Holiday Party” Attachments
The scam: Files like Holiday_Schedule.pdf or Party_List.xls install malware when opened.
Prevention: Scan attachments and verify unexpected e-mails before opening.
- Bogus Holiday Fundraiser Scams
The scam: Phishing sites mimic charities or fake “company match” campaigns to steal money or data.
Prevention: Use a verified list of approved charities and official donation portals.
Why These Scams Work
Our Network Security Services and Managed IT Support protect small businesses in Houston, TX, including legal, CPA, and manufacturing firms.
These scams use familiar tools such as e-mail, digital payments, and online banking, but twist them into traps. They’re not clumsy “Nigerian prince” e-mails anymore. They’re believable, urgent, and well researched.
Companies that run phishing simulations cut their risk by 60%, and using multifactor authentication (MFA) blocks 99% of unauthorized logins. Yet many small businesses still rely on passwords alone.
Your Holiday Scam Defense Checklist
Backed by IT Support, Help Desk Services, and Cybersecurity Services to keep your systems safe all year.
Before the holidays:
- Two-Person Rule: Require verbal confirmation for large transactions.
- Gift Card Policy: No approvals by text or e-mail.
- Vendor Verification: Confirm banking changes by phone using numbers already on file.
- Enable MFA: Across e-mail, banking, and cloud accounts.
- Train Staff: Review these scams with real examples.
The Real Cost: More Than Just Money
While Orion’s $60 million scam made headlines, smaller companies often take the harder hit:
- Operations halted during peak season
- Lost productivity as staff scramble on cleanup
- Damaged client trust and reputation
- Insurance premiums spiking after a breach
The average loss per BEC scam is $129,000, enough to close many small businesses.
Keep Your Holidays Merry, Not Messy
The holidays should be about celebrating wins, not cleaning up scams or wire fraud. A few smart policies, MFA, and scam-awareness training can stop criminals cold.
Remember: one verification phone call could have stopped Orion’s $60 million scam.
Ready To Protect Your Business Before The New Year?
Book your FREE Security Assessment with us, your local Houston IT services & support team. We’ll help you identify vulnerabilities and keep scammers out for good.
Click here to schedule your 15-min discovery call today.
Because the best gift you can give your business this holiday season… is peace of mind.
