November 03, 2025
Picture this: it's December. The team's juggling end of year tasks, holiday songs are playing, and suddenly the accounts payable clerk's phone buzzes: "Hey, buy $3,000 in Apple gift cards for clients, scratch the backs, email me the codes." It sounded odd … but the message came from the boss's name, and it was holiday chaos. By the time she double checked, the cards were gone and the scammer had cashed out. Ouch.
Sadly, that was the mild version. In the same month, Orion S.A. a mid sized chemical manufacturer got hit with a full scale wire transfer scam with what appeared to be a routine email. Urgent "boss" requests. Legit operations. Result: $60 million vanished more than half their annual profits.
If you think, "We're small so we'd never be targeted", think again. Gift card scams alone cost businesses over $217 million in 2023. OCC.gov+3Chargebacks911+3www.ndtv.com+3 Business email compromise (BEC) attacks where wire transfers get hijacked account for 73% of all cyber incidents in 2024. So yeah, even "small" businesses are on the radar.
5 Holiday Scams Your Employees Should Know (Before They Cost You Thousands)
- "The Boss Needs Gift Cards" (The $3K Text Trap)
• The scam: Someone impersonates the owner/manager and orders staff to buy gift cards for "clients" or "employee appreciation". 37.9% of BEC incidents in Q1 2024 involved gift card schemes.
• Prevention: Create a policy: no gift cards without two approvals. Train staff: the boss will not text you to buy cards. - Invoice & Payment Switch‑Ups (The Big Money Play)
• The scam: A fake "updated banking details" email or a hijacked vendor thread right as year-end bills roll in. (For example: one town lost nearly $500 k this way.)
• Prevention: If banking/payment changes > $5,000 → phone verification (not the number in the email). - Fake Shipping & Delivery Notices
• The scam: "Your UPS/FedEx/USPS delivery failed click here to reschedule." Instant phishing trap. fcc.gov+1
• Prevention: Staff bookmark official carrier sites. Anyone receiving an "unexpected delivery" email? Verify with the carrier directly. - Malicious "Holiday Party" Attachments
• The scam: An email with "Holiday Schedule.pdf" or "Party List.xls" that installs malware when opened.
• Prevention: Block macros, scan attachments, and treat unexpected files like red flags. - Bogus Holiday Fundraisers
• The scam: Fake charities, "company match" campaigns, emotional pleas all to steal money or data.
• Prevention: Maintain an approved charity list. Donations must go through your official portal, not via random links/texts.
Why These Attacks Work And How To Stop Them
Those same tools that make business efficient email, online banking, and digital payments are the ones scammers exploit. These aren't some "mythical prince" jokes anymore. They're full blown social engineering meets real research on your company.
Organizations that run regular phishing simulations reduce risk by 60%, yet many small businesses skip this training entirely. Multifactor authentication blocks 99% of unauthorized logins, yet some firms rely on passwords alone.
Your Holiday Defense Checklist
✅ Two‑Person Rule: Any transaction above a set threshold needs verbal confirmation via separate channel.
✅ Gift Card Policy: Written rule: no gift cards via email/text.
✅ Vendor Verification: All banking/payment changes must be confirmed by phone with pre‑approved number.
✅ Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA on all email, banking, and cloud accounts.
✅ Holiday Awareness: Run a short team briefing on the five scams above real examples and what to do.
The Real Cost: More Than Just Money
That $60 million loss by Orion made headlines. But for many small businesses, the hidden costs are even worse:
• Operations grind to a halt during peak season.
• Productivity drops while staff scramble on recovery.
• Customer trust erodes if data is compromised.
• Insurance premiums spike after an incident.
Average loss per business email compromise incident: $129,000 -enough to sink many small businesses at the worst possible time of year.
Keep Your Holidays Merry, Not Messy
The holidays are meant for growth and celebration, not for cleaning up wire fraud. A quick team huddle, a few smart policies, and a little layered protection can go a long way toward keeping criminals out of your books.
Remember: The employee at Orion could've stopped a $60 million loss with a single phone call verification. With the right awareness and simple checks, your business can avoid being the next cautionary tale.
👉 Want to make sure your team is locked down before the New Year? Book a 15‑minute discovery call with us and we'll walk you through quick, practical steps to keep your business safe. https://chrcreative.com/discoverycall
Because the best gift you can give your business this holiday season is peace of mind. 🎁
