"Phishing Scams Are Coming to Town"
The Christmas season is a busy time for phishers. According to Check Point research, 17 percent of all malicious files distributed via email in November were related to orders and shipping during the Black Friday holiday season, which is expected to worsen in December as attackers attempt to exploit shipping, package notifications, and more. In addition, researchers at the email security firm Avanan have discovered an increase in phishing campaigns involving direct deposits. The scammer will pose as an employee, requesting that the Human Resources department or a manager change their direct deposit information. Emails impersonating delivery companies such as UPS, DHL, and FedEx are also popular. These impersonation attacks attempt to obtain credentials, often in the form of a delivery charge or a compensation claim for a lost package. People are more likely to fall for these scams at this time of year because they are expecting packages. There is also the age-old scam of sending malware in the form of an attachment disguised as an invoice or delivery notification. This article continues to discuss the rise in phishing attacks this holiday season and how people can avoid falling victim to such attacks.