For many businesses, the holidays mark the end of a busy season. Orders slow down, inboxes quiet, and teams return from vacation ready to start the new year strong. Unfortunately, cybercriminals don’t take a break, they simply change tactics.
In fact, January and February are prime months for cyber scams, especially against small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Attackers take advantage of post‑holiday confusion, delayed reconciliations, distracted teams, and reduced vigilance.
At TechGN, we see a predictable pattern every year: businesses relax after December, while scammers shift into a new phase of attacks designed to exploit cleanup activities, refunds, invoices, and account resets.
This guide explains what scammers do after the holidays, the most common post‑holiday cyber threats, and how your business can stay protected as the new year begins.
Why Cyber Threats Spike After the Holidays
Many SMBs assume the biggest risk is during the holidays. While that’s true, the weeks after the holidays are just as dangerous, if not more so.
Here’s why:
- Backlogs everywhere: Unread emails, unpaid invoices, pending shipments, and delayed approvals
- Financial reconciliation season: Accounting teams are processing refunds, expenses, and vendor payments
- Password resets and device changes: Employees return with new phones, laptops, or forgotten passwords
- Lower guard: Teams assume the danger has passed
Scammers thrive in this environment because mistakes are easier to make when people are catching up.
The Most Common Post‑Holiday Cyber Threats
Let’s break down the top scams and attack methods that surge right after the holidays, and how they target SMBs.
Refund & Chargeback Scams
After the holidays, businesses handle a wave of refunds, returns, and chargebacks. Scammers exploit this by sending fake emails that look like:
- Refund confirmations
- Payment reversals
- Credit card disputes
- Accounting system alerts
These emails often include malicious links or attachments designed to steal credentials or install malware.
Why it works:
Finance teams are already dealing with real refunds, making fake ones harder to spot.
Fake Vendor & Invoice Follow‑Ups
Attackers know vendors often close early or pause operations during the holidays. Afterward, scammers send emails like:
- “Following up on our unpaid invoice”
- “Resending invoice due to holiday delay”
- “Updated banking details for 2026”
This is known as Business Email Compromise (BEC), one of the most expensive cybercrime categories tracked by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Why it works:
Employees assume the invoice is legitimate because payments were delayed during the holidays.
Fake Shipping Problem Emails
Even after Christmas, shipments continue. Scammers send messages pretending to be from:
- UPS
- FedEx
- USPS
- Amazon
These emails claim there’s a delivery issue, refund, or required confirmation. Clicking the link leads to credential harvesting pages or malware downloads.
Common red flags:
- Urgent tone
- Generic greetings
- Slightly misspelled domains
Password Reset & Account Recovery Attacks
After time off, employees often forget passwords or log in from new devices. Scammers capitalize on this by sending fake:
- Microsoft 365 password reset alerts
- Google Workspace security warnings
- VPN or remote access re‑authentication requests
These messages look legitimate and are designed to steal login credentials.
Once attackers gain access, they can move laterally across systems, access email, or initiate financial fraud.
Gift Card & Expense Reimbursement Scams
Gift cards don’t disappear after the holidays. In January, scammers send emails impersonating executives requesting:
- Gift card purchases
- Emergency reimbursements
- “Quick favors” while they’re “in meetings”
These scams are especially effective against SMBs with informal approval processes.
Tax‑Related & Payroll Scams
As the new year begins, businesses prepare for tax season. Attackers exploit this by sending fake messages claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service or payroll providers.
Common scams include:
- Fake W‑2 requests
- Payroll update links
- “Tax document errors”
Once accessed, attackers can steal employee data or redirect payroll deposits.
Malware Hidden in “Year‑End Reports”
Scammers send attachments labeled as:
- “2025 Summary Report”
- “Year‑End Invoice”
- “Annual Statement”
These files often contain malware, ransomware, or remote access trojans (RATs).
Because year‑end reporting is normal in January, employees are more likely to open them.
Why SMBs Are Especially Vulnerable Post‑Holiday
Large enterprises often have layered security teams and strict processes. SMBs usually don’t—and attackers know it.
Here’s why small businesses are prime targets after the holidays:
- Limited IT staff or outsourced support
- Informal approval workflows
- Shared passwords or admin access
- Fewer security awareness refreshers
- Delayed patching and updates
According to the Federal Trade Commission, small businesses consistently rank among the most affected victims of post‑holiday fraud and identity theft.
Real‑World Example: A Post‑Holiday Invoice Scam
A TechGN client returned from holiday break to find a familiar vendor invoice in their inbox. The email appeared legitimate and referenced a December service. The accounting team processed the payment. Two weeks later, the real vendor followed up, and no payment had been received. The email had been a spoof. Funds were transferred to an overseas account and could not be recovered.
What went wrong?
- No secondary payment verification
- No DMARC email protection
- No post‑holiday security refresher
What fixed it?
TechGN implemented:
- Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
- Payment approval workflows
- Post‑holiday phishing awareness training
How SMBs Can Protect Themselves After the Holidays
Cyber defense doesn’t require fear, it requires preparation. Here’s how TechGN helps businesses reduce post‑holiday risk.
Run a Post‑Holiday Security Reset
Start the year with a security baseline review:
- Change passwords for critical systems
- Review admin and user access
- Disable unused accounts
- Check email forwarding rules
This simple reset closes gaps created during holiday absences.
Patch and Update Everything
Delayed updates are a favorite entry point for attackers.
- Update operating systems
- Patch business software
- Update firewalls, routers, and VPNs
January is the perfect time to catch up on missed patches.
Reinforce Email Security
Email remains the #1 attack vector.
Key protections include:
- Spam and phishing filtering
- DMARC, SPF, and DKIM configuration
- External email tagging
- Link and attachment scanning
TechGN provides managed email security to reduce risk before threats reach inboxes.
Refresh Employee Cyber Awareness
Short refresher sessions work best post‑holiday.
Cover topics like:
- Refund and invoice scams
- Password reset phishing
- Executive impersonation
- Reporting suspicious emails
Human awareness remains one of the strongest defenses.
Review Financial Approval Processes
Implement or enforce:
- Dual approval for payments
- Vendor banking change verification
- Clear escalation paths
This drastically reduces BEC and invoice fraud.
Monitor for Suspicious Activity
Use monitoring tools to detect:
- Unusual login locations
- Failed login attempts
- Unexpected email rule changes
- Data exfiltration behavior
Early detection limits damage.
How TechGN Helps Businesses Stay Secure Year‑Round
At TechGN, we specialize in helping SMBs stay secure before, during, and after peak threat seasons.
Our services include:
- Managed cybersecurity solutions
- Email security and phishing protection
- Endpoint and device security
- Access control and MFA setup
- Backup and disaster recovery
- IT support and monitoring
We don’t just react to threats, we help you stay ahead of them.
Start the Year Secure with TechGN
Don’t let post‑holiday scams undo a year of hard work.
Contact TechGN today to schedule a cybersecurity review and start the year protected.
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