Ramadan 2023: more than a third of top Middle East retailers fail to protect customers against email fraud

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Thirty-five per cent of the top 20 Middle East retailers are taking no measures to protect Ramadan shoppers against fraudulent activities, according to cybersecurity and compliance company Proofpoint.

The company claims that only 65 per cent of the top retailers have implemented the minimum level of Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance protection (DMARC).

Regional director, Mena at Proofpoint, Emile Abou Saleh, said: “The retail sector in the Middle East continues to remain as vibrant as ever, with statistics showing that profits from grocery, apparel and electronics retail in the GCC are exceeding the global industry average. 

“Consumer spending in KSA was the highest in the region at over $16 billion. With this high traffic of retail activity, Middle East retailers must protect their customers and brand from email fraud. Email is the vector of choice for cybercriminals and the retail industry remains a key target. Organisations in all sectors should look to deploy authentication protocols, such as DMARC, to shore up their email fraud defences.”

Moreover, only six out of the top 20 (30 per cent) have the strictest and recommended DMARC policy (‘reject’) in place, meaning 70 per cent are not proactively blocking fraudulent emails from reaching consumers.

With the onset of Ramadan and discount sales, consumers are expected to spend a whopping $66 billion on retail in the Mena region this year. 

This implies that millions of shoppers will continue to scour the internet for not only the best Ramadan offers available but will also be inundated with emails promising deals that are too good to miss. Cybercriminals on the prowl are known for creating tempting clickbait for unexpecting consumers and capitalising on the increase in an email communication from retailers to trick shoppers with fraudulent emails.

DMARC is an email validation protocol designed to protect domain names from being misused by cybercriminals.

Proofpoint recommends consumers follow the below top tips to remain safe online: using strong passwords, watching out for “lookalike” sites, dodging potential phishing and smishing attack, avoiding clicking on links and verifying before buying.

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