Vikas Goyal 2.O’s Post

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗖𝗬𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠 Black Friday: A Prime Target for Cybercriminals As Black Friday approaches, the UK’s cybersecurity chief has issued a clear warning: this annual shopping event is increasingly being exploited by cybercriminals targeting both consumers and businesses.  What’s happening? 1. Phishing scams disguised as Black Friday deals.   2. Fake websites mimicking popular retailers to steal personal and payment details.   3. Cyberattacks on small businesses lacking strong cybersecurity defenses.  Stay Safe This Black Friday: 1 Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or texts offering “amazing” deals.   2 Double-check website URLs before entering payment information—watch out for misspellings or unfamiliar domains.   3 Use secure payment methods like credit cards or trusted payment platforms.   4 Enable multi-factor authentication on shopping accounts to add an extra layer of security.   5 Keep your devices updated with the latest security patches.  Black Friday deals are tempting, but the cost of falling victim to a scam is far higher. Let’s make this Black Friday about smart, secure shopping.  Read more about the cybersecurity chief’s warning in "The Guardian": [Black Friday turning into ‘Black Day,’ says UK cybersecurity chief] https://lnkd.in/gTqFHzXQ #CyberSecurity #BlackFriday #OnlineScams #StayVigilant  

Protecting Yourself from Brand Impersonation Scams That amazing Black Friday deal you're eyeing might be a scammer's trap. Last year, Freida lost her entire holiday savings in minutes after shopping on what she thought was a legitimate retail website. She's not alone – thousands of shoppers fall victim to sophisticated brand impersonation scams during the holiday season. Today's cybercriminals create perfect replicas of popular retail sites, complete with familiar logos, layouts, and checkout processes. The only difference? Your money and personal information go straight to the scammers. Normal Looking Flat Out Fakery The most dangerous part is how normal these fake sites appear. They promise deep discounts on popular items and create urgency with countdown timers and "limited stock" warnings. By the time you realize something's wrong, your financial information is already compromised. Verify and Validate Protect yourself by typing store URLs directly into your browser instead of clicking email links. Always verify website security by checking for https:// and the padlock icon. Use credit cards instead of debit cards – they offer better fraud protection. When shopping on unfamiliar sites, take a moment to research their legitimacy. If you spot a suspicious site, report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (https://lnkd.in/g6Qc5K6v) and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (https://www.ic3.gov/). Alert the legitimate company's fraud department to help protect other shoppers. As you browse this year's Black Friday deals, remember Freida's story and ask yourself: Is saving a few dollars worth risking your entire bank account? Deep Diving If you are a bit more technically inclined, do a short deep dive on the website before you enter your payment information. Visit ViewDNS, look for the Domain / IP Whois box in the far right column, fourth one down. Enter the website URL like this: fakesight.com, and hit GO. If the creation date is relatively new, chances are you’ve discovered a fake site that will vanish as quickly as it was created. Be careful out there, holiday thieves are always looking to blacken your holiday spirit and put your pocketbook in the red. #Thanksgiving #BlackFriday #Cybersecurity #StaySafeOnline

🛍️ For anyone planning on some Black Friday shopping, it is worth being prepared. And I don’t mean researching where the best deals are.   Clothing, high-end tech products and even cars were among the products featuring in Black Friday scams last year. Telecoms company Three is already reporting an increase in scam messages.   Turning on 2-step verification is the best thing you can do to reduce this risk for you and your families. For more tips on cyber-hygiene, check out my blog in the comments. https://lnkd.in/ewrrwEVH   #cybersecurity #cyberhygiene #blackfriday #fraud

How to be cyber-savvy on Black Friday Who doesn’t love a good deal? Every year on Black Friday, shoppers flock to high streets, shopping centres and the online market to score everything from groceries to TVs for hugely discounted prices. But Black Friday, followed by Cyber Monday, are also big days for scammers and opportunists. In fact, incidents of fraud increase by 22% on Black Friday, with the average shopper losing £970. Particularly with Christmas just around the corner, this would be a devastating amount of money to lose on a deal that really was too good to be true. That’s why it pays to take precautions. Our top tips on how to be cyber-savvy on Black Friday will help to keep you protected while you shop. #Cyber #CyberInsurance #BlackFriday #CyberMonday #TowergateInsurance

Are You Ready For Black Fraud-day? 🎁 As Black Friday approaches (and let's face it, we're all looking for a festive deal), the National Cyber Security Centre has issued a warning to online shoppers: online scams are on the rise, and last year alone, shoppers lost over £11 million to Cyber criminals. I read an article by The Guardian referring to it as 'fraud-day', which feels far more entertaining for a Friday! As the majority of us turn to online shopping, I thought I'd share a few tips as a reminder of the best-practices we may forget when frantically trying to avoid buying yet another pair of socks! ⭐ Fraud doesn’t discriminate. Whether you’re 30 or 60, shopping on social media or established marketplaces, vigilance is key, and even the most experienced shopper can be tripped up. ⭐ Enable 2-Step Verification: Add an extra layer of security to your banking accounts—it’s quick, easy, and could save you in the long-run. ⭐ Research Before You Pay: Check reviews on trusted sites and verify the legitimacy of sellers or sites. ⭐Pause Before You Purchase: Scammers thrive on creating false urgency. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Whilst you may not need these tips, someone in your life will! #BlackFriday #OnlineSafety #ShopSmart #CyberSecurity #FraudPrevention #StopThinkFraud #OnlineShoppingTips #ScamAwareness #StaySafeOnline #DigitalSecurity #CyberCrimeAwareness #OnlineScams

!!!!IMPORTANT!!! -𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 '𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲' 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, according to the National Cyber Security Centre, with criminals using artificial intelligence to trick shoppers. More than 16,000 reports of online shopping fraud were recorded between November 2023 and January 2024, with each victim losing £695 on average. *Fake Calls:* Scammers may call pretending to be from your bank, saying there's a problem with your account or asking for your PIN or OTP. The same goes for any other company! Don’t share these details—No legitimate company or person will ever ask for your OTP over the phone. *Fake Emails:* Be careful with emails offering huge discounts or saying you’ve won something. Don’t click on links or download attachments unless you’re 100% sure it’s real. Always check the actual sender email address, not just the display name! *Fake Texts/SMS/WhatsApp's:* Scammers might send texts about fake deliveries or offers, or even send payment links to "release your parcel", "skip the wait" or to process "customs fees". Always check the sender carefully and don’t click unknown links, rather contact the company directly. Keep these tips in mind to shop safely online: - Buy from trusted retailers. - Ensure the website is secure: look for the padlock - Avoid subscription traps: read the fine print. - Check customer reviews - Enable 2-step verification for your accounts. - Review the returns policy. - Keep a record of your purchase Share this with loved ones—let’s keep everyone safe this season! #BlackFriday #CyberSecurity #CyberCrime #unitedkingdom #london #world #onlineshopping #london #unitedkingdom

Black Friday Starts Early for Scammers—Here’s How to Protect Yourself 🛑💳 The Black Friday and Cyber Monday rush have already begun and scammers are already targeting online shoppers with brand-impersonation scams, fake ads, and credit card skimmers. 🚨 From bogus PlayStation deals to phishing websites, cybercriminals are working overtime to steal your data and money. Stay safe this shopping season: 1. Watch for fake ads and deals—if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.   2. Avoid suspicious websites—especially those with outdated info.   3. Don’t click on sponsored ads—use trusted sources to shop.  Protect your data, and report scams immediately if you fall victim! 🛡️ Read the full article for more tips on keeping your bank balance safe. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eTdGGwKF Article via Forbes #CyberSecurity #BlackFriday #OnlineShopping #ScamAlert #DigitalSafety

Black Friday deals are luring shoppers, but cybercriminals are waiting to exploit the rush. From AI-driven phishing to fake social media ads, online scams are on the rise. Stay vigilant this season to avoid falling prey to fraud. #CyberSecurity #BlackFridayScams #OnlineFraud #StaySafe Neehar Pathare Altaf Halde Gaurav Deshpande Ashwani Mishra Daniel Keshet Shirin Pathare Srinivas L Sumit C.

BLACK FRIDAY ALERT: 2024's Most Dangerous AI-Powered Scams (And How to Protect Yourself) Black Friday scams are more sophisticated than ever, thanks to artificial intelligence. Let me share some alarming statistics: Amazon had to remove over 40,000 phishing websites and shut down 10,000 scam phone numbers in 2023 (Forbes, November 2024) 43% of fraud reports last year involved social media platforms (NordVPN Security Research) We're seeing a 41% surge in malicious advertising leading into this holiday season (Malwarebytes Q3 2024 Report) Here are the top threats you need to watch out for: 1) AI-Enhanced Website Spoofing. Criminals are using AI to create perfect replicas of legitimate shopping sites. These aren't the obvious fakes we used to see - they're nearly identical to the real thing. The only giveaway might be a subtle URL change, like "northfacecoat.shop" instead of "thenorthface.com". 2) Social Media Ad Traps. AI is now generating hyper-convincing social media content that can fool even the most vigilant consumers. These ads feature incredible deals that look legitimate but lead to fraudulent websites. 3) Smart Delivery Scams. With multiple packages in transit during Black Friday, scammers are sending sophisticated fake delivery notifications. They're counting on you being too busy to verify every delivery update. 4) Intelligent Gift Card Fraud. The old gift card scams have gotten a makeover. AI is now crafting personalized phishing emails that look like they're coming from trusted brands like Sam's Club. My Security Protocol for Safe Shopping:  ✔️ Use Direct Navigation: Never click email links. Type the store's URL directly. ✔️ Payment Protection: Use credit cards only - never wire transfers or gift cards. ✔️ Verification First: Research sellers thoroughly before purchasing. ✔️ Trust Your Gut: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If You've Been Scammed: - Call your bank immediately - Contact your credit card company - Report to local law enforcement - Document everything for the investigation - Freeze your credit Pay attention: Scammers are counting on the Black Friday rush to cloud your judgment. Take your time, verify everything, and stay safe. #SecurityAwareness #BlackFriday #CyberSecurity Sources: Forbes: "Black Friday Scams Are Already Here: 3 To Watch Out For" (November 15, 2024) NordVPN Security Blog: "Black Friday Scam Report" (2024) Better Business Bureau of West Michigan (2024) Malwarebytes Threat Report (Q3 2024)

🚨 Do you know how to spot Black Friday scams? 🚨 As you look for the best deals, scammers are on the hunt too. Black Friday is a prime time for scams - fake websites, phishing emails, and suspicious payment links can cost you more than you bargained for. Read our article on how to spot and avoid Black Friday scams - https://lnkd.in/eV6H-jex. Here are some quick tips on how to protect yourself: ✅ Shop on trusted websites ✅ Avoid deals that seem too good to be true ✅ Never share your banking details with unverified sources. If something feels off, trust your instincts. Stay vigilant, shop smart, and protect your finances. #Fraud #FraudAwareness #FraudPrevention #BlackFriday #OnlineScams