Naglotech Editorial Team

~ Thursday, December 4, 2025

Staying Safe This Christmas: Protecting Your Personal Information

Christmas is one of the most exciting times of the year, and it’s also one of the busiest seasons for online scammers. With millions of people shopping for gifts, tracking deliveries and hunting for Black Friday deals, fraudsters have the perfect opportunity to disguise their attacks among the genuine messages we expect to receive.

Cyber criminals are becoming smarter, more polished and using AI to their advantage. That means the scams you see today often look far more convincing than they did even a year ago. At Naglotech, we’re committed to helping you and your business stay safe online. Here’s what you need to look out for this festive season, and how to protect yourself from the most common Christmas scams.

The Rise of SMS and Delivery Scams at Christmas


One of the biggest threats during December is the surge in scam text messages, also known as smishing. With so many packages due for delivery, we all naturally expect updates from Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, DHL, Amazon and other couriers. Scammers take advantage of this by sending messages that claim a delivery has failed and that a small fee is needed, or your address must be confirmed. These messages often feel urgent and can appear really convincing at first glance.

The danger is in the link. Clicking on this will direct you to a fake website designed to look identical to a real courier page. Once there, you’re encouraged to enter your personal or bank details handing them directly to the scammers. These websites are really professionally designed and can be extremely difficult to distinguish from genuine ones. A good rule of thumb is simple: genuine couriers will never ask for your bank details or a “redelivery fee” by text. If something feels out of the ordinary or arrives unexpectedly, always go to the courier’s official website or app instead of following a link in a text message.

Fake Online Shops and ‘Too-Good-To-Be-True’ Special Offers


Fake online shops are another growing threat. Every Christmas, scammers set up websites that appear to offer sold-out toys, popular electrical items or heavily discounted items. They look polished and professional, include product images and even feature fake reviews.

One of the easiest ways to spot a suspicious site is to look at the price. If something is significantly cheaper than everywhere else, it’s likely a scam. You should also check whether the website actually lists a physical address, proper contact information and a secure checkout (look for https). Many fraudulent websites hide behind vague “contact us” forms or unrealistic return policies.

You might also find it useful to carry out a general search for the company on the internet, along with any forums where other shoppers might have been scammed.

Phishing Emails, Fake Confirmations and Social-Media Tricks

Alongside fake delivery messages and online stores, scammers also ramp up phishing emails and social-media scams at this time of year. Emails claiming to be from retailers, banks or couriers may tell you there’s a problem with your account, an unpaid balance or an order you didn’t place. Unlike a few years ago, these emails will appear professional and free of spelling mistakes, making them much harder to spot.

Scammers also push tempting Christmas offers across social media, everything from “free gift card giveaways” to a limited-time Christmas sale. Clicking through can take you to fake websites or pages that harvest login details, payment card information and other personal data. The best defence is to check the sender’s actual email address rather than relying on the display name, and to avoid clicking links in unexpected messages. If something feels off, visit the retailer’s website directly by typing the address manually.

Cyber criminals use information about you that’s available online (including on social media sites) to make their phishing messages more convincing. You can reduce the likelihood of being phished by thinking about what personal information you (and others) post about you, and by reviewing your privacy settings within your social media accounts.

Summary

Staying safe online at Christmas doesn’t mean avoiding online shopping altogether, it simply means slowing down and being cautious. Before clicking any link, just take a moment to check the source and think about whether you were expecting that message. If you’re unsure, verify through the company’s official website, app or customer-service channels. Using a credit card instead of a debit card offers additional protection if something does go wrong. Enabling two-factor authentication, using strong unique passwords and keeping your devices updated will also significantly reduce your exposure to scams. And if you receive a suspicious SMS, you can report it for free by forwarding it to 7726 which is a UK service used by mobile networks to block scam numbers. Read more here: Report a scam text message - NCSC.GOV.UK

Christmas is meant for celebration, not added worry. Sadly, scammers take advantage of the busy festive season, hoping rushed decisions and overlooked details will work in their favour. A little awareness and a moment’s pause can go a long way in safeguarding your money and your personal information. At Naglotech, we’re committed to making cyber-safety straightforward for everyone. If you’d like more guidance on protecting yourself or your users from phishing, online scams or wider cyber-security risks, we’re here to help - just get in touch: Contact Us | Naglotech

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