--- title: Q4 and Holiday Cybercrime Threats description: Stay safe from holiday cyber threats with our STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. strategy. Learn how to protect yourself from scams during the busy season. image: https://blog.lmttech.com/hubfs/Stop%20Look%20Listen%20Blog%20Graphic.png --- [![lmt-logo-rgb1 copy](https://blog.lmttech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lmt-logo-rgb1%20copy.jpg?width=2932&height=1619&name=lmt-logo-rgb1%20copy.jpg "lmt-logo-rgb1 copy")](https://www.lmttech.com) # The LMT Blog ## [Q4 and Holiday Cybercrime Threats](https://blog.lmttech.com/q4-and-holiday-cybercrime-threats) ** Nov 21, 2024 4:14:00 PM / by [April L. Sy](https://blog.lmttech.com/author/april-l-sy) Every year, as the holiday season approaches, we hear the warning: *“[It’s the season for cybercrime!](https://blog.lmttech.com/tis-the-season-for-cyber-crime)”* While it might sound like a cliché, there’s a very good reason this reminder is repeated. The end of the year is when cybercriminals ramp up their efforts, knowing that businesses and individuals are busy, distracted, and more likely to let their guard down. This year, we’re revisiting a time-tested strategy for staying safe online: **STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. ** ## **STOP** ## **Expect the Unexpected** As we head into the busy fourth quarter, it's important to take a pause before acting. Here are key red flags that should make you *STOP* and think twice: - **Your Gut**: If something feels off, but you can’t put your finger on it—*STOP*. Trust your instincts; our subconscious often detects threats before we consciously recognize them. - **Busyness**: Cybercriminals know you’re busy. Don’t check emails or messages when you’re rushing. This is when you're most likely to miss subtle signs of a scam. - **Too Good to Be True**: Scammers often lure you in with tempting offers like free gift cards or cash prizes. If it sounds too good to be true—*STOP* and think twice before clicking any links. - **Unexpected Communications**: Sure, it’s open enrollment season, but is HR really emailing you at 2 AM? Is the President asking you to buy gift cards? If you get a message that doesn’t feel right, *STOP*. Always verify through official channels. ## **LOOK** ## **Pay Attention to the Details** Before clicking on anything, take a moment to *LOOK* carefully at what’s in front of you. Cybercriminals rely on distractions and shortcuts to slip through unnoticed. Here's how to spot them: - **Email & URL Links**: Hover over links (without clicking) to see where they really lead. Check that the sender's email address matches the official domain. For text messages, contact the sender directly through another method to confirm legitimacy. - **Grammar and Tone**: Poor grammar or awkward phrasing is a classic sign of a phishing attempt, but with advances in AI, scammers are getting better at crafting emails that look professional. Still, watch for errors and inconsistencies. - **Timing**: Pay attention to when the email was sent. An email from your boss or a vendor at an unusual time could be a sign of fraud. - **Generic Greetings**: Be wary of emails that address you as “Dear Customer” or “Dear User.” Legitimate businesses will know your name and personalize their messages. - **Familiarity**: Does the email sound like it’s from someone you know? If the tone seems off, or the request doesn’t feel right, it could be a phishing attempt. ## **LISTEN** ## **Emotional Exploitation** Hackers know that emotions drive decisions, which is why they often play on our feelings to get us to act quickly. Here’s what to *LISTEN* for when reading suspicious messages: - **Threatening Language**: If you receive a message that’s threatening—like your bank claiming they’ll close your account—*LISTEN* to that feeling of urgency. Scammers use threats to force you to act without thinking. - **Sense of Urgency**: Messages that pressure you to act immediately, such as “sign this document now” or “change your password within 24 hours,” are trying to make you panic. *STOP. LOOK. LISTEN* before you act. - **Emotional Manipulation**: Cybercriminals often exploit feelings of fear, desire, or even shame. For example, an email from your “IT department” telling you your company computer has been flagged for inappropriate behavior might pressure you to click on a malicious link to “view the evidence.” These messages are designed to exploit your emotional response and get you to act impulsively. ## **Final Thoughts** The holidays are a time for giving, but they also bring an increase in cybercrime. By following the *STOP. LOOK. LISTEN.* method, you can stay one step ahead of cybercriminals and protect yourself and your business from falling victim to scams. This simple three-step process can help you make safer decisions online, ensuring you enjoy the holidays without the hassle of dealing with a cyberattack. [Download our free STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. pop art infographic today!](https://blog.lmttech.com/hubfs/LMT_Stop%20Look%20Listen%20Infographic.png) Stay vigilant, trust your instincts, and always take a moment to stop and think before you click. Topics: [Cybersecurity](https://blog.lmttech.com/topic/cybersecurity), [Cybercrime](https://blog.lmttech.com/topic/cybercrime), [Holidays](https://blog.lmttech.com/topic/holidays), [MSP](https://blog.lmttech.com/topic/msp), [Data Privacy](https://blog.lmttech.com/topic/data-privacy), [Information Security](https://blog.lmttech.com/topic/information-security), [SMB](https://blog.lmttech.com/topic/smb), [Holiday Scams](https://blog.lmttech.com/topic/holiday-scams) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilsycreative/) [**](https://twitter.com/sunshine14616) --> Share on Social: [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.lmttech.com%2Fq4-and-holiday-cybercrime-threats%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.lmttech.com%2Fq4-and-holiday-cybercrime-threats%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://7528304.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/twitter-color.png?width=24&name=twitter-color.png) ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.lmttech.com%2Fq4-and-holiday-cybercrime-threats%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.lmttech.com%2Fq4-and-holiday-cybercrime-threats%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) --- ### Subscribe to Email Updates --- [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5032426/8e6ab643-791b-45e2-936c-e1aab416761f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5032426/8e6ab643-791b-45e2-936c-e1aab416761f) --- ### Recent Posts --- ### Posts by Topic - [Cybersecurity (36)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cybersecurity) - [IT (30)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/it) - [Cyber-Security (22)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cyber-security) - [security (14)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/security) - [technology (11)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/technology) - [Email Compromise (10)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/email-compromise) - [Business (9)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/business) - [Cybercrime (9)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cybercrime) - [Phishing (9)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/phishing) - [Small Business (9)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/small-business) - [Cyber Crime (7)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cyber-crime) - [COVID-19 (5)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/covid-19) - [Coronavirus (5)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/coronavirus) - [Data Privacy (4)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/data-privacy) - [Digital Communication (4)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/digital-communication) - [Information Security (4)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/information-security) - [MFA (4)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/mfa) - [Business Continuity (3)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/business-continuity) - [Data Protection (3)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/data-protection) - [Holidays (3)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/holidays) - [Ransomware (3)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/ransomware) - [Vendor Email Compromise (3)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/vendor-email-compromise) - [#CybersecurityAwarenessMonth (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cybersecurityawarenessmonth) - [#cyberinsurance (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cyberinsurance) - [Artificial Intelligence (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/artificial-intelligence) - [Cybersecurity Awareness Month (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cybersecurity-awareness-month) - [Disaster Recovery (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/disaster-recovery) - [Due Diligence (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/due-diligence) - [Financial Relief (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/financial-relief) - [ITSupport (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/itsupport) - [Multifactor Authentication (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/multifactor-authentication) - [New York Reopens (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/new-york-reopens) - [Remote workforce returning to the office (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/remote-workforce-returning-to-the-office) - [Risk Management (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/risk-management) - [VEC (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/vec) - [industries (2)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/industries) - [#Christmas (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/christmas) - [#Shopping (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/shopping) - [2FA (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/2fa) - [3CX (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/3cx) - [AI (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/ai) - [Automation (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/automation) - [BCDR (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/bcdr) - [BuildingAStrongerAmerica (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/buildingastrongeramerica) - [Business Model (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/business-model) - [Business Security (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/business-security) - [Business Technology (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/business-technology) - [CISA (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cisa) - [CISSP (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cissp) - [Client Experience (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/client-experience) - [Cloud (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cloud) - [Cloud Services (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/cloud-services) - [Compliance (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/compliance) - [CriticalInfrastructure (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/criticalinfrastructure) - [DFS (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/dfs) - [Data Breach (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/data-breach) - [Digital Identity (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/digital-identity) - [Digital Transformation (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/digital-transformation) - [Document Drafting (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/document-drafting) - [Endpoint Detection (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/endpoint-detection) - [Holiday Scams (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/holiday-scams) - [IT Consulting (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/it-consulting) - [IT Infrastructure (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/it-infrastructure) - [Identity Theft (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/identity-theft) - [Law Firms (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/law-firms) - [Legal (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/legal) - [Legal Firm (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/legal-firm) - [Legal IT (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/legal-it) - [Legal Tech (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/legal-tech) - [Legal Trends (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/legal-trends) - [MSP (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/msp) - [Managed Service Provider (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/managed-service-provider) - [Microsoft (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/microsoft) - [Microsoft End of Life (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/microsoft-end-of-life) - [NYS Department of Financial Services (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/nys-department-of-financial-services) - [NYSDFS (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/nysdfs) - [Network Security (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/network-security) - [Non-Disclosure Agreement (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/non-disclosure-agreement) - [Phishing Scams (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/phishing-scams) - [PrintNightmare (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/printnightmare) - [Remote Workers (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/remote-workers) - [Returning to the Office (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/returning-to-the-office) - [SMB (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/smb) - [Security Audits (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/security-audits) - [Silent Starling (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/silent-starling) - [Smartphone (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/smartphone) - [Social Engineering (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/social-engineering) - [Stolen Identity (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/stolen-identity) - [Tax Season (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/tax-season) - [Travel (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/travel) - [Vacation (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/vacation) - [Windows 7 (1)](https://blog.lmttech.com/tag/windows-7) [See all](https://blog.lmttech.com/q4-and-holiday-cybercrime-threats#) --- [Tweets by LMTtechnology](https://twitter.com/LMTtechnology?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ## About LMT **LMT Technology Solutions in Rochester, NY delivers managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud computing, risk management, systems integration, VCIO and other business information technology services. We've been a trusted IT partner in Western New York and beyond since 1996.** [Learn More](https://www.lmttech.com/) ## Links ## Contact Us ** (585) 784-7470 ** [support@LMTtech.com](mailto:support@LMTtech.com) ** 800 Linden Avenue Rochester, New York 14625 © Copyright 2026 LMT Technology Solutions. [**](https://blog.lmttech.com/q4-and-holiday-cybercrime-threats#) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "April L. Sy", "url" : "https://blog.lmttech.com/author/april-l-sy" }, "dateModified" : "2024-11-21T21:14:00.342Z", "datePublished" : "2024-11-21T21:14:00.000Z", "headline" : "Q4 and Holiday Cybercrime Threats", "image" : [ "https://blog.lmttech.com/hubfs/Stop%20Look%20Listen%20Blog%20Graphic.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.lmttech.com/q4-and-holiday-cybercrime-threats", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.lmttech.com/hubfs/lmt-logo-rgbB-1.png" }, "name" : "LMT Technology Solutions" } } ```