The holiday season is officially here—and with it comes the chaos of gift shopping, deliveries, year-end work deadlines, family events, and a very long list of things to remember. In all the excitement, one thing tends to slip: our alertness.
Cybercriminals know this.
And every December, they take full advantage of it.
Between surprise packages, online deals, contests, giveaways, and charity campaigns, our inboxes and phones are busier than ever. It’s the perfect time for scammers to blend in.
At Skycomp, we see the same pattern every year—so here are the top holiday scams to watch out for and how to avoid falling for them.
1. Fake Delivery Notifications
You’re expecting gifts. You’ve ordered things online. Maybe three different family members have shipped something to you. So when you get a text saying:
“Your package is on hold. Confirm delivery here.”
…it feels believable.
But these fake delivery SMS messages are one of the most common holiday scams. Clicking the link often leads to:
Malware downloads
Credit card fraud
Stolen personal information
How to stay safe:
Go directly to the official delivery website or app (Canada Post, UPS, FedEx, Amazon). Never trust the link in the message—especially if you weren’t expecting a delivery that day.
2. Gift Card Scams
Scammers love urgency, and the holidays are full of it.
You might see messages such as:
“Your holiday gift card is waiting! Redeem now.”
Or worse, employees may receive emails that appear to be from a manager asking them to buy gift cards “for clients” or “as a surprise,” and to send back the codes.
Once a gift card code is sent—it’s gone.
How to stay safe:
Remember: no legitimate company or coworker will ask for gift cards over email or text. Ever.
3. Fake 50/50 Draw Results or Contest Winnings
Holiday charity draws are everywhere—in workplaces, communities, and especially on social media.
Scammers copy logos, fonts, and even entire posts to make fake “You won!” messages that seem real.
You might see:
“Click here to see if you won this round!”
The link usually leads to credential theft or a malicious website.
How to stay safe:
Check the official account directly. If you didn’t enter a draw—there’s nothing to win.
4. Holiday Giveaways from “Almost Legit” Pages
A brand-new Facebook or Instagram page pops up with a familiar logo, a holiday promo, and a giveaway that looks enticing.
But look closer:
The page was created last week
It has no real posts
The “official” handle is slightly misspelled
It asks you to “verify your identity” or “complete a survey” to claim your prize
These pages are designed to grab your personal data and disappear.
How to stay safe:
Always check the age, history, and handle of the page. Real companies don’t run giveaways from fresh accounts.
5. The Biggest Vulnerability Isn’t Technology—It’s People
You can have firewalls, antivirus tools, and advanced security systems—but if someone clicks a malicious link, enters their password on a fake website, or trusts the wrong message, your entire organization is exposed.
That’s why holiday season cyber awareness matters more than ever.
Wishing You a Stress-Free, Scam-Free Holiday Season
At Skycomp, we want you to enjoy the holidays without worrying about cyber threats.
If you want peace of mind this season—and beyond—we can help with:
Cyber protection
Email security
Staff training
Threat monitoring
Incident response
Let us handle the cybersecurity so you can focus on what really matters this holiday season.
Stay safe, stay aware, and happy holidays from the Skycomp team!
~ Gumpit – Skycomp Lord of Pings