During Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2024, phishing attacks soared to 692% compared to the beginning of November. Not only do these cybercriminals attack individuals, they also target small businesses, with around 56% reporting an attack during Black Friday in 2024. In today’s blog, we’ll go over Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams, and how to watch out for phishing scams during the month of November.
Common Phishing Scams to Watch For
Phishing scams are the most common attack, accounting for 42% of attacks during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Phishing is when attackers attempt to steal sensitive data by impersonating a reputable source with an enticing request.
During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the top phishing scams you can expect to see are:
- Fake retailer emails promising exclusive deals
- Bogus order or delivery notifications containing malware
- Gift card scams disguised as urgent requests from “management”
- Malicious ads or pop-ups on social media promoting too-good-to-be true offers
A lot of these phishing scams do look professional and can even have trusted logos and domains.
How Phishing Attacks Can Affect Businesses During Black Friday and Cyber Monday
As we’ve covered, during the month of November, phishing emails ramp up significantly. These emails aren’t just targeting consumers; however, they also go after businesses. A singular click or download of a malicious phishing email could potentially compromise your business.
With over 43% of all cyberattacks targeting small businesses, there is a serious risk of these phishing emails finding your inbox. If your organization lets its guard down, it could result in financial loss, downtime, reputational damage, and potential business closure.
All it takes is one person to click or install the wrong thing to affect a company that wasn’t prepared.
(Real phishing email we received recently)
How to Protect Your Team from Phishing Scams
Cyberattacks, specifically phishing, are increasingly more common during the holiday season. So being prepared is your organization’s best defense. We recommend getting your team to talk about:
- Conducting a short pre-holiday security reminder
- Double-check email senders and URLs before clicking
- Avoid using work devices for personal Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping
- Use MFA, email filtering, and endpoint detection
- Reinforce a “report it, don’t report it” policy
Cybersecurity awareness can be a strong defense for organizations, but when it takes only one person’s slip up to cause harm, we recommend going with a safer alternative.
Why an MSSP Is Your Best Defense All Year Long
A Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), is a dedicated partner that continuously monitors, manages, and protects your companies’ systems. Instead of relying only on Internal IT resources, an MSSP can work around the clock with security experts, advanced tools, and real-time threat detection to stop attacks before they cause damage.
Cybercriminals don’t stop after Black Friday or Cyber Monday. While phishing scams spike during the holidays, attackers operate year-round. They continue to look for weaknesses, send phishing emails, and exploit any lapse in vigilance. That’s why having an MSSP is not just for seasonal protection; it should be an ongoing safeguard for your entire organization.
An MSSP like Kirkham IronTech helps your business stay resilient with 24/7 monitoring, proactive threat detection, and security awareness training for your team. Our experts identify and stop attacks such as phishing scams before they can reach your inbox, while also minimizing downtime and keeping your network secure all year long.
If you’re ready to protect your business during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond, now is the time to act. Contact Kirkham IronTech today to strengthen your defenses and keep your organization safe from evolving cyber threats.
Tom Kirkham brings more than three decades of software design, network administration, and cybersecurity knowledge to organizations around the country. During his career, Tom has received multiple software design awards and founded other acclaimed technology businesses.
