Fake USPS/FedEx or Amazon Shipping Problems? How to Protect Your Data During Increased Holiday Activity

The holiday season brings a flurry of activity to every business. For many, it’s the busiest time of year, with a sharp increase in sales, orders, and shipments. This surge in logistics means inboxes are flooded with legitimate tracking updates, delivery confirmations, and invoices from carriers like FedEx, UPS, and Amazon.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals are acutely aware of this. They exploit the holiday chaos, knowing that busy employees are more likely to let their guard down. They flood inboxes with cleverly disguised fake emails and other fraudulent shipping notifications, creating a perfect storm for a security breach that could compromise your entire company.

Protecting your business requires understanding this threat and building a strong defense. It starts with knowing what to look for.

Why Phishing Scams Skyrocket During the Holidays

Phishing is a form of social engineering where attackers impersonate a trusted entity to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or deploying malware. During the holidays, shipping-related phishing becomes their most effective tool for several reasons:

• High Volume: Your employees are expecting these emails. When they are processing dozens of real shipping notifications a day, a fake one can easily slip through unnoticed.
• A Sense of Urgency: Everyone wants their packages to arrive on time. Scammers create a false sense of urgency with subject lines like “Delivery Problem” or “Action Required for Your Shipment.” An employee, wanting to resolve the issue quickly, might click a malicious link without thinking.
• Distraction and Stress: The holiday season is a stressful time. Employees are often multitasking and rushing to complete tasks before taking time off. This distraction makes them prime targets for a well-crafted scam.

How to Spot a Malicious Shipping Notification

While scammers have become more sophisticated, their fraudulent emails almost always contain red flags. Train your team to look for these warning signs before clicking anything:

1. Inspect the Sender’s Email Address: This is the most reliable giveaway. A legitimate email from FedEx will come from a “@fedex.com” domain. Scammers often use slightly altered domains (like “@fedex-shipping.com”) or long, nonsensical addresses. Hover your mouse over the sender’s name to reveal the true email address.
2. Check for Generic Greetings: Legitimate companies will often address you by name. Be suspicious of generic salutations like “Dear Customer,” “Valued Client,” or just “Greetings.”
3. Hover Over Links Before Clicking: A link in an email might say “Track Your Package,” but the underlying URL could lead somewhere malicious. Hover your mouse over the hyperlink to see the actual destination address in the bottom corner of your browser. If it looks like a strange or unofficial website, do not click it.
4. Look for Poor Grammar and Spelling: While some phishing emails are perfectly written, many are not. Odd phrasing, typos, and grammatical errors are strong indicators that the email is not from a professional organization.

The safest practice is to never click links in an unexpected shipping email. Instead, go directly to the carrier’s official website and enter the tracking number manually.

FAQs

What happens if an employee clicks on a phishing link?

A single click can have devastating consequences. It can trigger the download of malware, such as spyware that steals passwords or ransomware that encrypts all of your company’s files and demands a payment. It can also lead to a fake login page that tricks the user into entering their network credentials, giving the attacker direct access to your system.

Are text message scams (smishing) also a threat?

Yes. “Smishing” (SMS phishing) is increasingly common. An employee might receive a text message, supposedly from a carrier, with a link to track a package. These links are just as dangerous as those in emails and should be treated with the same level of suspicion. Instruct your team to never click links in unexpected text messages.

Why would attackers target our small or medium-sized business?

Many small business owners believe they are too small to be a target, but the opposite is often true. Cybercriminals view smaller businesses as high-value targets because they typically have fewer cybersecurity resources than large corporations. They hold valuable data—customer information, financial records, employee data—and are often more likely to pay a ransom to restore operations.

How can tekRESCUE help protect my business from these attacks?

A comprehensive security strategy involves both technology and training. tekRESCUE provides a multi-layered defense that includes:

• Advanced Email Filtering: We implement solutions that scan incoming emails for malicious links, attachments, and other signs of phishing before they ever reach your employees’ inboxes.
• Employee Security Training: We can provide your team with ongoing training to help them recognize and report the latest phishing tactics, turning your staff into a powerful human firewall.
• Managed Endpoint Protection: We deploy and manage advanced antivirus and anti-malware software on all your company devices to block malicious software from executing.

A Proactive Defense for a Secure Holiday Season

The phishing problem is more than just an annoyance; it’s a direct threat to your business’s financial health and reputation. While employee vigilance is your first line of defense, it’s not enough on its own. A proactive and professionally managed security posture is integral for all businesses.

By partnering with a dedicated IT and cybersecurity expert like tekRESCUE, you can implement the technical safeguards and training programs needed to protect your data. This allows your team to navigate the busy holiday season with confidence, knowing they’re supported by a robust security framework with the bonus of not having to worry about IT issues. Do not let a simple scam turn your holiday into a crisis.