Middle East Retailers Strengthen Email Security to Combat Fraud 

As the holiday shopping season approaches, cybersecurity firm Proofpoint has revealed new research showing that top retailers in the Middle East are significantly enhancing their email security measures to better protect customers from the growing threat of email fraud. 

The findings are based on a recent analysis of Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) adoption among the region’s leading retailers. DMARC is an email authentication protocol that safeguards domain names from misuse by cybercriminals. It works by authenticating the sender’s identity before a message reaches its intended recipient, offering three levels of protection: monitoring, quarantine, and rejection. The “reject” policy provides the highest level of security by blocking suspicious emails from entering inboxes. 

According to Proofpoint’s analysis, 90% of Middle East retailers have published a DMARC record, and 40% of the top 20 retailers have adopted the strictest DMARC policy—“reject”—which actively blocks fraudulent emails. This represents a notable improvement over last year, when only 30% of retailers had implemented the strict DMARC “reject” policy. 

The Middle East retail market is expected to grow by 4.21% from 2024 to 2032, driven by an expanding population and increasing consumer demand for online shopping, according to a report by IMARC. With this rise in e-commerce, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting retail customers using sophisticated phishing tactics and other forms of email fraud. 

Emile Abou Saleh, Regional Director for the Middle East & Africa at Proofpoint, commented, “Middle East retailers recognize the risks millions of consumers face when shopping online. Phishing, ransomware, and business email compromise remain top attack vectors, especially as e-commerce continues to surge. Implementing authentication protocols like DMARC will be crucial to ensuring the security and growth of the retail sector.” 

As email remains the number one threat vector, consumers are urged to exercise caution when shopping online. Phishing emails often lead to malicious websites that steal personal information such as login credentials and credit card data. Proofpoint recommends entering known website addresses directly into browsers to verify deals and using password managers and multi-factor authentication for added security. 

With these proactive measures in place, retailers are taking important steps to ensure a safer shopping experience for their customers during the busy holiday season and beyond.