With Black Friday just around the corner, thousands of deals and discounts will be up for grabs on November 29th. Whether you’re a savvy shopper hunting for bargains or getting a head start on holiday gift shopping, there will be plenty of irresistible offers to take advantage of.
However, it’s crucial to stay vigilant, as online scams tend to increase in the lead-up to major sales events. Cybercriminals often take advantage of the larger audiences drawn to websites by discounted prices and special offers, making it more important than ever to protect yourself from potential threats.
Marco Farnararo, CEO and co-founder of BravoVoucher.co.uk, shares advice on how to identify and steer clear of Black Friday scams.
Fake Websites
Popular retailers are often prime targets for scammers during major discount events. Fraudsters set up convincing websites that closely resemble legitimate ones, luring customers with unrealistic discounts. Once shoppers make a purchase, they may receive counterfeit or incorrect items – or worse, the scammers take the money and vanish without delivering anything at all.
Always exercise caution by checking that the site you’re using has “https” in the URL before entering any payment information. This helps ensure that your money and personal data remain secure.
To be extra cautious, if you have an account with the retailer, ensure that you are logged in. If you don’t have an account, consider signing up directly on the retailer’s official website to confirm its legitimacy.
Phishing Emails and Text Messages
Phishing is a type of cybercrime that targets consumers through fake emails and text messages that impersonate legitimate retailers, claiming to offer amazing discounts and deals. These messages often include links directing you to fraudulent websites designed to capture your financial information. Always verify the security of a site before making a purchase or entering any personal information.
In some instances, the fake website addresses linked in the message contain clear grammatical errors, such as replacing characters (for example, substituting an “o” with a zero, as in g00gle.com). This can easily mislead customers, particularly when the advertised ‘deal’ is presented as time-sensitive, causing shoppers to rush through the checkout process.
Social Media Scams
Social media has emerged as a prominent platform for scamming shoppers in recent years. Fraudulent giveaways, competitions, and enticing offers can be widely advertised across platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.
These often include links to claim your prize or access a discount code, which can lead to fraudulent websites demanding personal details to receive what you have supposedly ‘won.’ Fraudulent coupons and discount codes are often received through emails or posted online, which can also direct you to insecure websites and require details to ‘redeem’ the voucher or offer.
Fake Order Confirmations
Cybercriminals frequently send fraudulent order confirmations via email for products that customers have not actually purchased. These emails may come from addresses like legitimate retailers but contain grammatical errors and noticeable mistakes.
They often include generic salutations such as “Dear Customer” instead of addressing you by your name. Additionally, they may contain unusual details, such as unfamiliar products and prices, along with urgent language suggesting that you need to act quickly to resolve an issue with your order.
To protect yourself from these scams, it’s advisable to consider installing an antivirus program and reporting any spam or fraudulent messages.
Avoid Shopping on Public Networks
Black Friday promotions, both legitimate and fraudulent, will be constantly appearing, making it tempting to act quickly while you’re out and about. Public Wi-Fi networks often lack proper safety protocols, such as passwords, allowing cybercriminals to exploit these connections and steal your banking details or personal information without your knowledge. With the abundance of offers and discounts available, this period presents an ideal opportunity for cybercriminals to target enthusiastic shoppers.
A simple way to avoid this is to avoid shopping until you are on a secure network, or to use your mobile data or a VPN for transactions.
Farnararo comments: “While Black Friday is an exciting opportunity to score some great deals, it’s crucial for shoppers to remain vigilant against potential scams. Always trust your instincts and the tips provided earlier. Some scams may appear obvious, but if an offer seems too good to be true, even from a source you consider reliable, there’s a good chance it is.
“Make sure to double-check everything before entering any personal or financial information. If you have any doubts, remember that no deal is worth the risk of falling victim to a scammer.”