'Tis the Season for Scams: Stay Cyber-Savvy This Holiday
🎄 'Tis the Season for Scams: Stay Cyber-Savvy This Holiday
From: Stackline Studio | Hudson Valley, NY
As the holidays roll in, so do the scams.
Every year around this time, phishing emails, fake delivery notifications, and "urgent" security pop-ups increase — and they’re getting trickier to spot.
If you're doing online shopping, clicking through holiday deals, or helping family with tech, now’s the time to tighten up your digital defenses.
🎄 Holiday Scams Are on the Rise — Here’s How to Stay Cyber-Safe This Season
The holidays are here, and so are the scams. Between online shopping, package tracking, digital gift cards, and those last-minute "URGENT!" emails, cybercriminals know this is their time to shine.
Let’s walk through a few quick (but important) tips to help you, your family, and your devices stay safe this season and maybe even keep Uncle Larry from clicking that fake FedEx link.
✅ 1. Be Extra Cautious with Links in Emails
This one sounds obvious, but it’s still the #1 scam vector we see.
You might get something like:
"We couldn’t deliver your Amazon package. Click here to reschedule."
It looks legit. The logo’s there. The wording is convincing. But here’s the trick:
Before you click anything, hover over the link with your mouse (don’t click it). You might see something like:
https://amazon.delivery.notice-id8x20q.ru/get/verify-nowSee that .ru at the end? That’s a Russian domain. Amazon does not send you to .ru. Ever.
If the domain doesn’t exactly match the real company (like amazon.com or usps.com), it’s a scam.
When in doubt, don’t click. Open a new browser tab and go straight to the company’s website on your own.
Breaking Down a Scam Email: Anatomy of the Intimidation Game
Here’s a perfect example of why you need to look closely before panicking. This email claims to be from a major law firm Fox Rothschild LLP accusing my studio of copyright infringement on Facebook. Sounds scary, right?
But zoom in a little...
- The sender's email? A random Gmail address—not a law firm domain. That’s your first red flag.
- No specific names listed. Legit firms don’t start with “Sir/Madam” they address the actual recipient.
- They try to scare you with bold labels: “URGENT,” “Infringement Notice,” and huge names like Universal Music Group and Lewis Capaldi. But funny enough, the song they referenced wasn’t even out on the stated date.
- The kicker? I don’t even have a Facebook video up.
This kind of scam is meant to weaponize fear. Big names + legal jargon = pressure to click or respond. Don’t fall for it.
If it smells off pause. verify. screenshot it. laugh.
🔐 2. Use Strong, Unique Passwords (Yes, Again)
Look, I get it. You’ve heard this a million times. But it actually matters.
If you reuse the same password for multiple sites, and one of them gets hacked, it’s open season. Suddenly your email, bank, and streaming logins are all at risk.
I personally use a password manager. I barely even know half my passwords, (Hello 1Password my manager remembers them for me. All I need is one strong master password, or my fingerprint (thanks, MacBook), and I’m in.
Tools like Bitwarden or 1Password generate and store unique logins for you. They're encrypted, secure, and save you a ton of headache.
⛔️ 3. Watch for Fake Antivirus Pop-ups
If you see something like:
“TROJAN FOUND IN WIN32! Click to remove!”
or:
“Google Chrome license expired. System at risk!”
Let me be clear: Google Chrome is free. There is no license. There's nothing to expire.
What’s happening is simple: they’re trying to scare you into an urgent decision. And how convenient is it that the popup offers the "solution" right there?
Don’t fall for it. Close the tab. Close the window. If you’re unsure, ask someone who knows (like us).
↺ 4. Keep Windows, macOS, and Browsers Updated
This one is low effort, high impact.
Whether you're using Chrome, Safari, Edge, or something else updates usually happen quietly in the background. Chrome, for example, updates itself whenever you relaunch the browser.
Windows and macOS? Just check once a week or two. Most vulnerabilities get patched fast ....you just need to actually install the patches.
Takes 5 minutes. Could save your digital life.
🧼 5. Use Real Antivirus (Not Adware in Disguise)
You don’t need a bulky, bloated security suite that screams at you every time you open an Excel doc.
I'm looking at you, Norton.
“Yes, Norton, I already have a subscription. No, I don’t want to upgrade. And please stop popping up 100 times a day.”
Stick to options that just work:
- Microsoft Defender (built into Windows and surprisingly solid)
- Bitdefender Free (quiet, effective)
- Malwarebytes Premium (great real-time protection)
Pro tip: You only need one. Running multiple antivirus programs will slow down your system and make them fight each other.
👨👧 Talk to Your Family (...Seriously)
This might be the most overlooked tip on the list.
Education is one of the most powerful tools in cybersecurity.
Most of the issues I deal with? Are caused by human error. Clicking on the wrong link. Reusing a bad password. Downloading something sketchy from a Facebook ad....then mayhem ensues.
You don’t need to be the family IT guy (although if you’re reading this, you probably already are). But talking to your parents, grandparents, or less tech-savvy friends can save them from major headaches.
A five-minute convo over dinner can prevent weeks of cleanup.
💬 Need Help? That’s What We Do.
Whether it's a suspicious popup, a hacked email, or a gut feeling that something's not right — Stackline Studio is here to help.
We do:
- Malware cleanup
- System checkups
- Home office hardening
- Small business IT support, and network overhauls
And we do it locally, with no upsells, no scare tactics, and no BS.
📍 Hudson Valley, NY
📧 projects@stacklinestudio.com
🌐 stacklinestudio.com
Stay sharp, stay safe — and enjoy the season.
– David, Stackline Studio