I write this with a lump in my throat. Years ago, I lost someone I love because a clinic’s system failed at the worst moment. Since then, I’ve made it my job to help doctors and their teams feel safe especially when cyber crooks try to cash in during the holidays.
If you run a family practice, this season is busy and emotional. Phones ring off the hook. Year‑end billing piles up. Staff take a vacation. Hackers know this. They plan for it. And they don’t care that you’re trying to help sick kids and worried parents.
Let me walk you through the biggest holiday scams I’m seeing right now—and the simple steps we use with clinics to shut them down.
1) “Doctor, can you grab gift cards?” (The $3,000 text trap)
How it works: A scammer pretends to be the owner or practice manager. They text a team member: “Grab $3,000 in Apple gift cards for patient gifts. Scratch and send me the codes.” It feels urgent and kind.
Why it lands in clinics: Front desk teams want to help. During the holidays, kindness is normal. That’s what the crooks exploit.
How we stop it:
· Put it in writing: No gift cards by text or e‑mail ever.
· Require two approvals for any gift card or pre‑paid purchase.
· Train staff to call the requester at a known number before acting.
2) Invoice and bank‑detail “switch‑ups” (The big‑money play)
How it works: A fake invoice arrives from a “known vendor” with new bank info. Or crooks jump into a real e‑mail thread and say, “We updated our account please pay here.”
Why clinics get hit: Year‑end billing, new equipment, clearing balances money is moving fast.
How we stop it:
· Create a Phone Call Rule for any payment or bank change over $5,000. Call the vendor using the number already on file, not the number in the e‑mail.
· Lock down accounts payable with role‑based access and logs.
· Turn on “external sender” labels to flag outside e‑mail.
3) Fake shipping and delivery texts
How it works: “USPS/UPS/FedEx: Delivery failed click to reschedule.” The link steals passwords or installs malware.
How we stop it:
· Bookmark real carrier sites on one shared page.
· Teach staff to type the address in; don’t click links.
· Use a password manager and multifactor authentication (MFA), so one bad click doesn’t sink you.
4) “Holiday party” attachments that carry malware
How it works: Files named “Holiday_Schedule.pdf” or “Party_List.xls” arrive from a “coworker.” You open it, and now the attacker has a foothold.
How we stop it:
· Block macros and scan all attachments.
· Verify unexpected files by phone before opening.
· Keep EDR (endpoint protection) up to date on every workstation and front desk to triage.
5) Bogus holiday fundraisers and fake “company match” pages
How it works: Crooks build a charity page that looks real or spoof your logo with a fake “practice match.” Staff donate and the attacker pockets the money and sometimes your login.
How we stop it:
· Share an approved charity list with real links.
· Route all giving through official portals only.
· Warn staff that we will never ask for donations via text.
Why these attacks work (and how we fight back)
These aren’t silly scams. They’re smart, simple, and timed for chaos. The attackers study your website, your Facebook page, your office hours, even your holiday party photos. They aim for the one person who’s tired, kind, and in a hurry.
What works:
· Quarterly phishing drills with quick coaching afterward.
· MFA everywhere e‑mail, EHR, billing, cloud tools.
· Least‑privilege access so a compromised account can’t move money or view PHI it shouldn’t.
· A written “Two‑Person Rule” for high‑risk actions: payments, banking changes, gift cards, new vendors.
Your holiday safety checklist (copy/paste to your playbook)
· ☐ Two‑Person Rule for any transaction above $5,000
· ☐ No gift cards by text/e‑mail—requires two approvals
· ☐ Vendor changes verified by phone using numbers on file
· ☐ MFA on e‑mail, banking, EHR, and cloud apps
· ☐ Staff huddle on the five scams—show real examples
· ☐ External‑sender tags turned on in e‑mail
· ☐ Password manager deployed and required
· ☐ Daily backups tested (can you restore in 15 minutes?)
The real cost for clinics, it’s personal
Money hurts. But the worst pain is downtime and lost trust. Phones jam. MyChart messages pile up. Staff cry in the break room. Patients wait longer. Families worry. I’ve lived what happens when systems fail, and I never want your practice to feel that.
A single verification phone call can stop a six‑figure loss. One short training can turn a near‑miss into a non‑event. We can make this simple.
Want help before year‑end?
Give me 15 minutes. I’ll map your biggest risks and show the three fastest fixes for your clinic. No scare tactics. Just calm, clear steps you can do this week.
Schedule your free Holiday Security Check
Because the best gift you can give your team and your patients is peace of mind.