Protect Yourself from Black Friday and Holiday Shopping Scams
by Anchises Moraes
In 2024, Black Friday falls on November 29th, kicking off the holiday shopping season and offering significant sales opportunities for consumers and retailers worldwide.
Black Friday has a long history of boosting economies, providing retailers with the opportunity to clear inventory with attractive promotions ahead of the holiday rush. The connection between Black Friday and holiday shopping makes this period a major commercial highlight globally.
In many regions, Black Friday promotions extend beyond a single day, often lasting throughout November, drawing immense interest from both consumers and businesses.
Unfortunately, this popularity also attracts fraudsters. The rush for deals makes consumers susceptible to various scams during this period. As a result, staying vigilant is critical for anyone planning to shop.
One common deceptive practice involves some merchants raising prices shortly before Black Friday, only to lower them during promotions, creating the illusion of discounts. Consumer protection agencies and platforms monitor pricing to expose such schemes.
Cybercriminals also exploit the shopping frenzy by employing tactics such as:
Promoting fake discounts via social media, messaging apps, phishing emails, and SMS.
Creating fraudulent websites that mimic trusted e-commerce platforms, tricking consumers into making purchases where goods are never delivered, and personal data is compromised.
Legitimate retailers are not immune, as scams can damage their reputation, eroding consumer trust. Cyberattacks such as DDoS or ransomware can also target e-commerce sites, resulting in disruptions and extortion demands.
A rising threat this year is the use of AI and deepfake technology to produce highly realistic videos featuring well-known personalities endorsing fake promotions. These convincing videos can easily deceive unsuspecting shoppers, making scams more challenging to detect.
Here are ten tips to help you shop safely:
1 - Plan your purchases, knowing what you need and the average prices of your desired items.
2 - Be wary of large, unexpected discounts, particularly in online ads, emails, and messages.
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3 - Avoid clicking on links from untrusted sources.
4 - Shop at reputable stores and verify website URLs carefully.
5 - Research unfamiliar online stores, checking their reputation and contact information.
6 - Check historical pricing to ensure that advertised promotions are genuine.
7 - Avoid using public Wi-Fi for online purchases.
8 - Use virtual credit cards for online shopping to reduce fraud risks.
9 - When making payments via bank transfers or similar methods, double-check recipient details.
10 - Trust your instincts—if a deal seems suspicious, it’s better to skip it.
Tips for businesses include:
Implement brand and threat monitoring to quickly identify and address fake promotions.
Keep your cybersecurity and fraud prevention teams on high alert. Some retailers set up dedicated response centers during peak shopping periods to detect and mitigate incidents swiftly.
Be transparent with customers. False promotions can seriously damage trust and credibility.
Maintain updated systems and adhere to cybersecurity best practices.
By staying alert, both consumers and businesses can enjoy a safer and more secure shopping season.
Analista de Suporte Computacional
1moGenial