Black Friday has evolved into one of the most active shopping periods of the year. No longer is it just one day of shopping after Thanksgiving; the sales have now turned into a full week of high-volume promotions, beginning before Thanksgiving and stretching through Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with many retailers extending deals even longer. Unsurprisingly, this surge in digital activity is very attractive for threat actors.
At Cofense, our team actively monitors the heightened phishing activity that typically occurs during this season.
“One of the most effective tools that threat actors use to trick victims into interacting with links is a sense of urgency, especially when people are looking for deals with short time windows,” Cofense Intelligence Manager Max Gannon explained. “ The 'click now before the deal runs out' mentality is heavily enforced by retailers, making Black Friday a substantial threat.”
High email volume, shopper urgency, and brand noise provide attackers with the cover they need to blend malicious messages into everyday inbox traffic.
Why the Holiday Shopping Season is a Magnet for Cybercriminals
Steep rise in promotional traffic
From pre-Black Friday teasers to Cyber Monday blowouts, retailers push out large volumes of marketing emails this time of year. Consumers have come to expect unfamiliar subject lines and new senders, which makes it easier for fraudulent messages to slip through undetected.
Urgency and impulsive behavior increase risk
Black Friday ads often include countdowns, limited inventory warnings, and rapid-fire deals. This increases a feeling of urgency on behalf of the consumer.
Account sprawl and shopper confusion
Many people sign up for new retailer accounts to access holiday discounts, while others return to accounts they rarely use. As a result, shoppers often struggle to remember where they purchased what, which messages they should expect, or which shipping updates are legitimate.
Mobile heavy browsing reduces scrutiny
A significant portion of holiday shopping occurs on mobile devices. Smaller screens make it harder to notice misspelled domains, suspicious URLs, or unusual sender details. Quick scrolling paired with constant deal notifications creates an ideal environment for phishing success.
Phishing Themes Commonly Seen During Black Friday
- Fake order confirmations: Attackers frequently send messages claiming a purchase was completed successfully. The “review order” link can mask a credential harvesting site.
- Shipping and delivery alerts: Spoofed UPS, USPS, FedEx, and Amazon notifications can surge each year during the holiday season. These often claim that a package requires an address update or customs fee payment.
- Too-good-to-be-true offers: Fraudulent promotions that promise extreme discounts often lead users to fake retail websites designed to steal payment credentials.
- Account security warnings: Messages suggesting suspicious activity in a loyalty or rewards account can trick users into providing login information.
How Shoppers Can Protect Themselves
- Go directly to the retailer’s site: Instead of clicking links in emails or texts, type the retailer’s name into your browser or use the official app. That way, you know for sure you’re in the right place.
- Verify the sender: A small alteration in a domain name often signals a phishing attempt. Take the extra time to scrutinize the sender’s email when you receive updates about holiday sales.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication: MFA helps prevent account takeover even if credentials are exposed. Turn it on for all accounts that harvest your personal information.
- Avoid attachments: Retailers rarely send attachments. Unexpected invoices or shipping documents are common phishing tools, so think twice before you open them.
- Pause before reacting: If a message feels rushed, surprising, or high-pressure, take a moment to confirm its legitimacy.
Final Thoughts
Black Friday and Cyber Monday capture most of the attention, but the entire holiday season creates ideal conditions for phishing. Increased message volume, abundant promotions, and shopper urgency provide attackers with ample opportunity. With the right awareness and defenses, organizations and consumers can navigate the holiday season safely.
At Cofense, our mission is to help you identify and stop phishing attacks before they cause harm. To learn more about how Cofense can help you outpace both traditional and AI-driven phishing threats across every channel, schedule a demo today.