How to protect your customers from AI-powered holiday phishing attacks

The holiday shopping season creates heightened cybersecurity risks as threat actors capitalize on increased email marketing volumes and consumer urgency to execute sophisticated phishing campaigns.

The threat landscape: The proliferation of generative AI has enabled cybercriminals to create increasingly convincing brand impersonations through fake logos, messaging, and landing pages.

• Government agencies including CISA and the FBI regularly warn consumers about seasonal scams targeting holiday shoppers and charitable donors
• Bad actors are leveraging advanced technologies to mimic legitimate business communications more effectively than ever before
• Consumer trust in brands can be severely damaged when customers fall victim to convincing phishing attempts

Critical security protocols: Implementing robust email authentication standards is essential for protecting both customers and brand reputation during high-volume marketing periods.

• Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) works alongside DKIM and SPF to prevent unauthorized domain spoofing
• Organizations should ensure DMARC is enforced across all sending domains to block malicious actors from impersonating legitimate email senders
• Regular monitoring of DMARC configurations and status is crucial for maintaining security across all domains

Customer communication best practices: Clear security messaging and communication protocols help customers identify legitimate brand interactions and avoid sophisticated social engineering attempts.

• Companies should provide visual examples of authentic confirmation and delivery status communications
• A single, verified phone number should be designated for customers to confirm suspicious communications
• Organizations need to establish clear guidelines about how they will and will not contact customers
• Support email addresses should be provided for customers to report suspicious communications
• Companies should outline specific circumstances under which they might initiate phone contact with customers

Emerging threats and countermeasures: The evolution of social engineering attacks now includes multi-channel approaches using voice, text, email, and deepfake technology.

• QR code security has become increasingly important, with customers needing guidance on how to verify legitimate domains
• Organizations must adapt their security strategies to address increasingly sophisticated and targeted phishing campaigns
• Security teams should implement both technological solutions and comprehensive training programs

Looking ahead: As social engineering attacks continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, organizations must maintain vigilant security measures while ensuring transparent communication with customers about security protocols and legitimate business interactions.