August may be a time for summer vacations and back-to-school shopping, but for cybercriminals, it’s open season. According to cybersecurity research from ProofPoint and Check Point, phishing attacks surge during the summer months—and small businesses in the Fargo-Moorhead area are just as vulnerable as large enterprises.
If your business relies on email, cloud apps, or even social media to operate (and most do), phishing scams can put your data, finances, and reputation at serious risk.
Here’s why the risk increases in late summer—and what you can do to stay protected.
Why Phishing Scams Surge in August
Attackers know that August is a time when many employees and business owners are distracted. Whether it’s vacation bookings, travel confirmations, or back-to-school emails, people are more likely to engage with links and attachments quickly—without verifying legitimacy.
Cybersecurity analysts have reported:
- A 55% increase in newly created vacation-related websites in May 2025 compared to the previous year.
- Over 39,000 new domains, with 1 in every 21 flagged as malicious or suspicious.
It’s not just travel scams, either. Fake emails posing as universities, online stores, or even internal HR systems are increasingly common—especially when employees check personal email or social media on work devices.
All it takes is one wrong click to give hackers access to sensitive data, disrupt operations, or worse.
What Small Businesses in North Dakota and Minnesota Can Do
You don’t need a massive IT department to stay secure—just the right strategy and a proactive technology partner.
Here’s what our team at IMS recommends for businesses in Fargo, Moorhead, and throughout the region:
1. Train Your Team
Phishing emails have become more sophisticated—especially with AI tools now generating convincing messages. Train your staff to:
- Check sender addresses, not just display names.
- Hover over links before clicking.
- Report anything that feels “off.”
2. Be Skeptical of Unusual URLs
Scam sites often use odd domain endings like .today, .info, or misspelled brand names. If a link looks strange, don’t click—search for the website directly instead.
3. Separate Personal and Work Devices
Employees should avoid checking personal email, shopping online, or using social media on company laptops or desktops. Keep personal browsing on personal devices.
4. Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Adding a second step to login—like a code sent to your phone—can stop attackers even if they have your password.
5. Secure Public WiFi Use
If you or your staff need to access company data while traveling, use a VPN when connecting to hotel or coffee shop WiFi networks.
6. Invest in Endpoint Protection
Modern cybersecurity tools like EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) monitor your systems in real time. If something suspicious happens, your MSP (like IMS) gets alerted and can respond immediately—often before you even notice a problem.
Don’t Let a Phishing Email Take Down Your Business
At IMS, we help small businesses across the Fargo-Moorhead region stay secure, responsive, and worry-free. Our clients rely on us for fast response times, proactive cybersecurity, and an approachable, friendly team that just makes things work.
Get a FREE Cybersecurity Assessment
Make sure your systems are protected before a phishing email slips through the cracks. Our free Cybersecurity Assessment will identify your biggest risks and give you a clear, jargon-free plan for protecting your data.
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