Top 10 Holiday Cyber Threats in 2025: How to Spot & Stop Phishing, Gift Card Scams, Ransomware, AI Fraud & More

The holidays are here. That means more online shopping, more clicking around, more pressure to find the best deals quickly and to wrap up year-end work... and unfortunately, cyber scammers are counting on it. While we're all busy hunting for the perfect gifts and snagging deals, cybercriminals are working overtime to take advantage of the chaos. They know people are distracted, businesses are stretched thin, and everyone's best defenses are overwhelmed by over-stuffed to-do lists. So, as you dive into these busy holiday weeks, let's talk about the 10 prevalent cyber threats you should watch out for this season—plus some simple ways to keep yourself, and your business, safe. 

1. Phishing Campaigns 

Phishing scams are annoying, but they’re also a serious threat. They are often the first step in a larger cyber attack. During the holiday season, they’re also much more plentiful. According to researchers at Darktrace, an AI security platform, phishing attempts surge by more than 600 percent in the lead-up to Black Friday. Attackers disguise themselves as stores, shipping companies, or deal platforms, crafting emails and messages that entice clicks with urgent sales, fake shipping notices, and fraudulent password reset alerts.  

2. Gift Card Fraud 

Gift cards are prime targets, with the FTC reporting that consumers lost $54.4 million due to gift card fraud in the third quarter of 2024. Scammers often impersonate trusted figures—like family members, employers, or government officials—claiming urgent needs and insisting you purchase gift cards and share the codes immediately. Legitimate organizations never demand payment via gift cards, which should be an immediate red flag. To protect yourself:

• verify any unusual requests through a different communication channel

• inspect physical gift cards for tampering before purchasing

• buy cards directly from retailers rather than third-party sellers

• never share card numbers or PINs over the phone or email.

If someone pressures you to act quickly, it's almost certainly a scam. Remember: gift cards are for gifts, not payments, and taking a moment to confirm a request can save you from significant financial loss. 

3. Account Takeovers 

Retail & Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center’s (RH-ISAC) 2025 Holiday Season Cyber Threat Trends report notes that automated attacks during the 2025 season may surge to unprecedented scale, with a predicted 520 percent increase in Gen AI-driven traffic during the 10 days prior to Thanksgiving.  

Credential stuffing attacks (using large lists of stolen usernames and passwords, often obtained from data breaches or leaks, to try to gain unauthorized access to accounts on other websites or services) and social engineering (using psychological manipulation to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security) soar during the holiday peak, targeting retail, finance, and hospitality logins. Attackers use stolen passwords or exploit weak authentication to hijack accounts, then make fraudulent purchases, drain loyalty points, or access sensitive information. Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) and prompt password hygiene are essential defenses. 

4. Automated Retail Bots 

Retail bot attacks, sometimes called “Grinch Bots,” scale rapidly to scoop up limited-edition or high-demand merchandise before real shoppers can buy. These bots are used primarily by unscrupulous resellers who buy large quantities of popular items, such as electronics, gaming consoles, or exclusive merchandise, to resell them at inflated prices on secondary markets during peak shopping seasons like Black Friday and the holidays.  

While these types of bot attacks are sophisticated and often hard to detect and prevent, new solutions, such as DataDome, are helping retailers protect their inventory and their businesses. For consumers, however, the best tactics to avoid getting scammed and overcharged are to shop early for high-demand items and stick to purchasing from reputable retailers and verified retailer websites.  

5. Ransomware Attacks 

A study by Semperis revealed holidays are a key target time for ransomware attackers: 52% of organizations surveyed in their 2025 Ransomware Holiday Risk Report were targeted on holidays or weekends. Retail and hospitality sectors are hit hard, with attackers locking down critical systems and demanding hefty cryptocurrency payments. The reason is simple: attackers know that businesses can’t afford downtime during their highest-earning and highest-demand part of the year, and they take advantage of that. Making sure that all of your proactive protective measures (backups in place and tested, networks segmented, patches and updates complete, etc.) are locked in is the best way to secure your organization against ransomware attacks.

6. Holiday Malvertising 

See that banner ad declaring a huge, unbelievable sale price on that exact thing you were looking for? If the offer is too good, and sometimes even if it isn’t, that ad could be malware. During the holidays, those malicious advertisements offering irresistible deals flourish online and on socials (Note the recent report that called out the millions of dollars being spent on Meta platforms for scam ads.)   

Resist the urge to click one of these ads, even just to check it out, because that click can open the door to malware, posing risks not just to personal systems but also to enterprise environments if users access company resources from home.  

7. QR Code and SMS Phishing (“Quishing” and “Smishing”) 

Those QR codes you now see everywhere can be super helpful ... or super sinister. Attackers now exploit QR codes by embedding malicious links in what seem like legitimate flyers, coupons, or delivery tags. And remember that attacks via text message, aka smishing, are on the rise. According to the Zimperium Mobile Shopping report, smishing can surge as much as 4X during the holidays. Be on watch for any text messages with links and think carefully before you click. Common tactics include fake delivery notifications or holiday deal alerts that leverage urgency or the risk of missing those critical deliveries to trick recipients into clicking dangerous links and giving up credentials. 

8. Fraudulent E-Commerce Sites 

The bottom line on this one: always double and triple check your URLs. Is it the actual URL for the store you’re intending to buy from, or is it slightly misspelled? Missing a letter? Fake online stores capitalize on frantic holiday shopping by mimicking popular brands, sometimes offering fantastic deals to lure victims, but orders are never fulfilled and/or financial and personal data is stolen for future fraud. Be particularly ware of any sites that request payment via non-traceable channels (such as gift cards or cryptocurrency), though you can’t count on that to identify fraud sites. If the goal is to steal your credit card info, they’ll be happy to “accept” that payment type as well.  

9. Loyalty and Rewards Program Fraud 

How many loyalty programs do you belong to? These programs are attached to almost every retailer these days, and while points and miles function the same way as cash, but they frequently do not have the same level of protection as bank accounts.  

With global fraud costs estimated at $1 billion to $3 billion annually, it’s a scheme that attackers are exploiting more and more often. Fraudsters increasingly target loyalty programs, draining points, exploiting refund policies, and abusing return mechanisms to monetize stolen credentials.

Loyalty program fraud significantly impacts both consumers and businesses, with victims often losing years of accumulated rewards while companies face financial losses, reputational damage, and increased operational costs to investigate and remediate breaches. To prevent this fraud, use the strongest available security measures: unique, complex passwords, multi-factor authentication, and avoid sharing account credentials or responding to phishing attempts. 

10. AI-driven Multichannel Scams 

It’s the trend everyone knew was coming and no one wanted: according to Deepstrike, the overall increase in AI-assisted cyber incident volume is estimated at 72%, with global damages projected at $30 billion in 2025 due to AI-enhanced attacks. Cybercriminals now deploy generative AI to formulate hyper-personalized, multi-step scams that unfold across social media, email, and even AI shopping assistants. These attacks trick consumers with convincing fake reviews, images, and “stories” designed to build trust before stealing funds or credentials. 

To protect yourself, use multichannel verification: if someone contacts you unexpectedly through one channel requesting sensitive information or urgent payment, hang up and independently verify through a different, official channel like the company's website. Establish family "safe words" to confirm emergency calls, enable two-factor authentication on all accounts, be immediately suspicious of any pressure to act quickly, and trust your instincts when something feels off, even if the voice, email, or video looks legitimate. Scammers often pressure you to act immediately, so taking time to verify through independent channels is your strongest defense. 

A Roundup of Holiday Cybersecurity Best Practices 

• Never click on unsolicited links or attachments, even if they appear festive or urgent. 

• Double-check URLs and domains for e-commerce sites before shopping. 

• Use unique, complex passwords and enable MFA on every account. 

• Train staff and family to spot phishing and malvertising attempts. 

• Consider dedicated gift card management tools or tamper-evident products. 

• Maintain updated backups and endpoint protection for all devices. 

• Monitor loyalty account activity for unexplained point losses. 

Anticipating evolving threats this holiday season means staying vigilant, applying layered defenses, and maintaining cybersecurity hygiene whether at home or work. Both businesses and consumers benefit from treating every transaction and communication with healthy skepticism—and verifying before trusting or clicking. Stay safe, shop smart, and keep your holidays happy! And always remember, we’re here to help if any questions arise!