Most Common Black Friday Scams? How to Prevent Black Friday & Cyber Monday Frauds?

Understanding Black Friday and Cyber Monday Scams is the first step to staying safe. Vigilance and awareness of potential threats when shopping online during these peak seasons is crucial.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday scams refer to fraudulent schemes during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday season when cyber thieves swindle their unsuspicious customers by sitting on fake websites.

This is done with abysmally designed credit card input screens and phishing emails, among other sneaky offers, to swindle away their personal information and monetary and credit card numbers.

9 Latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday Scams You Need To Avoid

Fake or Spoofed Online Stores

The most prevalent hoax is a phishing website that looks almost identical to a genuine retailer in terms of look and feel, full of high-tech design, logos, and images of products.

Phishing, a term derived from ‘fishing,’ is a fraudulent attempt to ‘fish’ for sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by disguising it as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Such sites often quote enormous discounts on high-demand items, and users are tempted to submit orders. Once credit card information is provided, the victim receives nothing, or worse, an inferior-quality counterfeit product.

These theft sites steal money and collect sensitive personal and financial information. Therefore, always be very keen on the URL; look for security features like ‘https,’ and read customer reviews before purchasing.

Social Media ads for “too-good-to-be-true” Deals

Scammers use social media because it is easier to run ads for cheap items or hard-to-find products. The ads look authentic, often pitching luxury goods, electronics, or fashionable items at impossible prices.

Links in these ads typically lead shoppers to a fake or malicious website where information about them or their payment details is solicited. Some even take the payment and still do not deliver the product.

Consumers should be cautious of such offers, even more so when the offer appears too good to be true. Verifying the seller’s authenticity is crucial to ensure a secure transaction.

Fake Order Confirmation Emails

During the holiday shopping season, scammers send out false order confirmation emails that appear to be coming from trustworthy retailers, confirming orders you never placed.

Typically, they contain threatening messages like an order under your name that you should open to see details, which, once opened, redirect to phishing sites that may steal your login credentials, edit card information, or payment details.

At the same time, others may install malware on your computer when it opens. To avoid this, never click on links in suspicious emails and directly check with the retailer if there is an unexpected order confirmation.

Fraudulent Delivery Notifications

The most common mail scam is stating that your package has been delayed or that more information is needed for the package to arrive.

It seems to be from companies like UPS, FedEx, or DHL, which makes the recipient click on a link to “follow” the package or update the delivery.

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In most cases, it leads to a fake site from which it collects a user’s private information or injects malware onto his device.

Avoid being tricked by the tracking information by cross-checking the carrier service’s website and being cautious of delivery notifications from unknown sources.

Fake Charity and Fundraiser Scams

Scammers take advantage of people’s goodwill during the holiday with fake charity or fundraising campaigns.

These deceitful scammers reach through email, social media, or even phone calls, asking for donations to support seemingly genuine causes like disaster relief, children’s charities, or medical needs.

However, the amount raised goes into the pockets of the scammer instead of the charity. Verify charities through official channels like the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance or charity watchdogs like Charity Navigator before the charities accept your donation, especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday when such scams ramp up.

Gift Card Scams

Gift cards have emerged as one of the popular holiday gift ideas, and scammers have cashed in on this trend by offering them at highly discounted prices via spurious promotions.

The two main ways these scams work involve fake websites advertising gift card deals that never materialize or sending cards with no balance.

Some even sell already redeemed cards at a discount. Since gift cards cannot be traced and are usually non-refundable, this scam can be pretty frustrating for victims. Avoid buying gift cards only from official retailers or genuine websites.

Bogus Coupon and Voucher Websites

One kind of scam, which involves fake coupon and voucher websites, promises deep discounts or exclusive deals in exchange for personal information.

To pretend to come into the sites, shoppers give away personal data like email addresses and names, sometimes even payment details, exposing themselves to identity theft or phishing attacks.

Sometimes, these low-quality sites may also infect devices with malware. It would do one good to consider only legitimate coupon providers and retailers’ websites, avoid the offers that ask for a lot of information in exchange for a coupon, and so on.

Non-Delivery Scams

In a non-delivery scam, buyers buy things presumably from unknown online marketplaces or classifieds and never receive the goods. The money taken is in advance, and scammers disappear or send false tracking information.

They may also state that shipping has been delayed to prolong communication time until all means of communication stop completely.

To avoid being a victim of this type of scam, purchase only from trusted sellers and be cautious of deals that require payment through insecure methods or those that seem unusually low in price.

Sellers Asking for Non-traditional Payment Options

Some scam artists require other forms of payment rather than the regular ones, such as a wire transfer, prepaid gift card, or cryptocurrencies, because those forms of payment are hard to trace and virtually impossible to reverse.

When using these payment methods, the scammer disappears when his money is sent, with no recourse available to the buyer for recovering his money.

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Shoppers should always use established forms of payment that are secure, such as credit cards and PayPal, which are acceptable and offer differing levels of buyer protection.

These forms of payment can help you recover your money if the seller does not deliver the promised goods or services, providing some means of resolving disputes.

How To Prevent Getting Scammed on Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Shop on Trusted Websites

It is also essential to shop at online sites that are well-known and verified. Most websites might have established security measures to protect your data and transactions.

To see if a website is trustworthy, look for an address that starts with “https,” meaning the website applies secure encryption using an SSL Certificate to safeguard your information.

You should also look for the padlock symbol in the address bar to confirm the secure connection.

Additionally, if you are unfamiliar with a retailer, take the time to read customer reviews or check for any complaints online. This can help you avoid potential scams by identifying fraudulent websites before purchasing.

Avoid Deals Too Good to be True

Scammers often take advantage of the desperation of Black Friday and Cyber Monday with unrealistically low prices or extravagant discounts.

Those are “too-good-to-be-true” deals aimed at snatching desperate shoppers to close deals, only to find later their website is a fraud or that the product has never been delivered. Always be wary of market value cuts that are significantly lower than usual.

A good practice is comparing prices across multiple retailers to understand the item’s worth. If a deal is far cheaper than anywhere else, it’s likely a scam. Trust your instincts and do your research before making a purchase.

Unsolicited Emails and Ads

Phishing emails and fake ads are common ways scammers trick people during holiday shopping.

These unsolicited emails or ads often contain links that promise massive discounts but lead to malicious websites designed to steal your personal and financial information.

To stay safe, avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or ads, no matter how enticing the offer appears.

Instead, if you’re interested in a deal, go directly to the retailer’s website by typing the URL into your browser. This ensures you’re on a legitimate site and not falling for a scam.

Use Strong Unique Passwords

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect your online shopping accounts is by using strong, unique passwords for each website.

Avoid using easy-to-guess passwords like “123456” or “password” instead; opt for complex combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters.

Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts adds an extra layer of security, requiring a second verification form (such as a code sent to your phone) before logging in. This can significantly reduce the risk of hackers gaining access to your accounts.

Use Credit Cards or Other Secure Payment Methods

Also, paying with credit cards or safe online payment services like PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay would provide another level of safety in shopping online.

In general, debit cards are not as safe as credit cards in terms of fraud protection, and it’s easier to dispute unauthorized charges made using a credit card.

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Secure payment services act as an intermediary and do not disclose your financial information to the merchant, lessening your chance of getting hacked.

Don’t use wire transfers or payment methods that do not have fraud protection because these are difficult to recover from in case anything goes wrong.

Watch Out for Phony Websites

Scammers often create counterfeit websites that mimic well-known retailers. These sites can look convincing, but they exist solely to steal your money or personal information.

Before entering any payment details, carefully check the domain name for subtle misspellings or unusual extensions (e.g., “.net” instead of “.com”). Scammers often use these small changes to trick people into thinking they’re on a legitimate site.

You can also use online tools, such as domain lookup services, to verify how long the site has been active — a recently created domain could indicate a potential scam.

Monitoring Your Bank and Credit Card Statements

This is the most recent aspect of checking your bank statement and your credit card statements following an online purchase. Scammers will make unlawful transactions after accessing your information.

You can easily recognize any suspicious activity and report it to your bank or credit card company. Most banks have real-time alerts that tell you a transaction was made, allowing you to respond quickly if it looks odd.

Sellers with a Reputation in Online Marketplaces

When shopping on online marketplaces like eBay or Craigslist, it’s crucial to research the seller before purchasing.

Check their ratings, reviews, and transaction history to ensure they’re reputable. Avoid sellers with limited or negative feedback, as they could run scams.

Be especially cautious when a deal seems significantly better than other sellers offer. Walking away is better than falling for a scam if something feels off.

Be Wary of Non-traditional Payment Forms

Hackers prefer non-traditional payment methods like wire transfers, prepaid gift cards, or cryptocurrency since they are not traceable and almost untraceable if one tries to reverse the process.

Be wary when a seller insists on these payments since it is a standard device used in fraudulent schemes. Safe payment forms, such as credit cards or PayPal, should be preferred, with at least some buyer protections to fall back upon in case of fraud.

Check Their Return and Refund Policies

Before purchasing, especially on high-ticket items, constantly review the retailer’s return and refund policies.

Scammers often create fake websites with vague or nonexistent return policies, making it nearly impossible to get your money back if something goes wrong.

Legitimate retailers will clearly outline their return process, including how to get a refund and any time limits for returns. If the policy seems unclear or too restrictive, consider shopping elsewhere to protect yourself from potential scams.

Conclusion

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