When Black Friday sales start, so do the Black Friday scams.
Some of the worst cases are fake delivery notifications, spoofed shopping websites, and scams asking for account verification details.
In a recent AARP survey of American shoppers aged 18 and above, it was found that 4 out of 5 adults in the U.S. reported that they came across or even suffered from at least one type of fraud.
Knowing about scams and possible ways to stay safe is the key to protecting yourself against online tricks.
The discussion about whether Black Friday is a scam sparks intense debates between people.
Proponents say Black Friday saves a lot of money and gives chances to buy things more easily.
They think it's a fun tradition that people look forward to and it is advantageous both for shoppers and sellers.
But some people say it's a trick.
They claim businesses make prices seem higher than they really are and use forceful methods to make people buy more.
They don't like the busy and pushy feeling of it all, saying it takes away from what the holiday is really about – being thankful and giving to others.
Some people who have been tricked by Black Friday sales are also villainizing it.
Even our readers-photographers have been fooled.
They were tempted by fake websites claiming to sell photo editing software, especially the popular ones, for a very low cost.
Imagine you're shopping online and find the ideal gift at a great price. You add it to your cart, and hit "Buy," but then things go wrong. You don't get a tracking number, the package doesn't show up, and the seller vanishes. FBI classifies such cases as a non-delivery scam.
How to solve: Keep track of when you tried to reach the seller but couldn't, take screenshots or save any proof of the issues you faced, and tell your credit card company you want to cancel the charges because of fraud. If you've been scammed through PayPal, you can open a dispute there. Also, it may be a good idea to ask your credit card company to cancel your old card and give you a new one.
If you want to buy stuff on Black Friday or Cyber Monday using your favorite credit card, but the seller tells you to pay with a gift card instead, be careful. I've seen this on auction sites, and it's a major warning sign. Cybercriminals like using gift cards because it's a simple way for them to take your money.
How to solve: Call the company that gave you the gift card as soon as possible if you think it was used illegally. If you're fast, they may give you back any money left on it. Every big store has its own process for handling gift card scams.
During the holiday season, dodgy scammers may use touching stories to con out money and encourage people to give it to fake charities. These scammers know that transferring donations as gifts is more common around Black Friday.
How to solve: If you've been robbed by a fake charity, report your case. The FBI suggests reaching out to your state consumer protection agency, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and the Federal Trade Commission. You may not get your money back, but sharing information can help the police catch the scammer.
In the period of Black Friday shopping, scammers may use holiday-themed phishing scams. The main thing about this Black Friday scam is that you may receive an email or message claiming there's a problem with an item you supposedly ordered. But if you don't recognize the item or remember ordering it, it's a real scam.
It is likely to be a fake email sent to get you to click on a harmful link, share your bank login details, or steal your personal info.
How to solve: If you click on a fake link, act straight away. If you entered your username and password on any website, change them immediately. Choose a strong password with at least 12 letters, numbers, and symbols mixed together.
If needed, change your phone or bank card PIN. Make sure your software is up to date and check for malware on your devices with a security scan. Inform authorities and the FBI’s IC3 about the scam and who the scammers were pretending to be.
Another holiday shopping scam is when you try to visit your favorite department store's website for Black Friday discounts. But you make a mistake typing the address, so you end up on a different site that seems real. You buy something there, presuming it's the right place.
But the website you're using is fake, created by scammers. They're trying to diddle you by showing fake Black Friday deals, taking your credit card details, and maybe even getting other personal info like your name and address.
How to solve: Quickly change your username and password for the real shopping website because scammers may have your login details now. If you've saved your credit card details on the real site, remove them just to be safe.
If you used your credit card on the fake website, tell your card company about the scam right away. They'll stop the scammer from using your old card number and give you a new card with a different number and expiry date.
Scammers can fool many holiday shoppers online with fake delivery notifications sent by email or text messages. These notifications may look as if they were sent by the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, or UPS, but they are tricky Black Friday scams.
Fraudsters want to catch you after your recent online shopping, especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday when many people shop. They may say there's an issue with your delivery and give you a link to click to "fix" it. Be careful, as they may ask for personal info or your credit card number.
How to solve: What you do next hinges upon what info you gave scammer. Usually, it's smart to take the same steps you would for a fake order scam. Also, watch your accounts closely and think about using a service like Norton 360 with LifeLock Select for identity theft monitoring.
Just like with a fake order scam, an account verification scam happens when you get a message from a company you bought something from. They'll say your account may be corrupted and you should take immediate action. They'll give you a link or a number in a bid to speed up problem solving.
If you open the link in the message or email, malware may get onto your device. If you call the number, they gave you, scammers may try to make you go to a dangerous website or trick you into sharing personal information.
How to solve: If you inadvertently clicked on any of the links, close your browser and clear your cookies and cache quickly. If you have an antivirus installed, run it to delete anything you may have downloaded. If you think your personal info was disclosed, change your passwords right away (and your security questions too), and keep a close eye on your accounts for a while.
Everybody likes receiving discounts, especially when it comes to holiday shopping. You may want to save some money by typing your contact details into a website that seems legitimate, in hopes of getting an online coupon code.
But, once you enter your contact details, you may end up on a sketchy website and see ads for things you didn't expect. The coupon code may not even function, and your contact details could be sold to other companies. This is one of the most frequent Black Friday scams that is very annoying.
How to solve: Stop using the website right away. Don't enter any more of your personal info. Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements for any charges you didn't authorize. Also, change your account passwords and implement additional security measures. If you think someone got your info, contact the appropriate authorities and freeze your credit.
Just like fake delivery notifications and phony order confirmations, a billing error scam tricks you into feeling rushed.
You may get an invoice or a call about items you never bought. Fake bills may be in the form of email attachments that may harm your computer. Alternatively, scammers may call you to confirm your payment info to confirm the bill. Sometimes it even happens that people get a PayPal invoice that looks very realistic. These tactics aim at grabbing your info illegally.
How to solve: Firstly, don’t give any personal or financial details to a swindler. Contact your bank or credit card company to report any suspicious charges and ask to freeze your accounts. Save any messages or paperwork relates to the scam.
Also, inform the relevant authorities, like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), about what happened.
1. Study online reviews. Make sure to investigate both the companies and the products to be sure they're legit. Stay away from scams like Amazon brushing.
2. Choose safe websites. Check for "https://" and a little lock symbol in your browser to be sure they're encrypted and have trust seals.
3. Install antivirus software. Keep your device safe from viruses and malware by using programs like TotalAV.
4. Use a virtual private network (VPN). Free VPNs like Surfshark offer decent encryption for protecting your privacy.
I rely on Surfshark if I want to browse the net without any privacy issues. The Surfshark ONE Bundle is a powerful software and plugins collection that can protect users from viruses, malware, data leaks, and privacy threats.
5. Use credit cards. When making purchases, choose a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards offer extra protection against fraud and come with additional perks for shopping.
6. Be careful with links that seem suspicious. Always double-check URLs and don’t click on any links that look strange, especially ones with numbers in them.
7. Use a password manager. Services like NordPass or Keeper can help you create and store reliable passwords for your accounts.
8. Don’t share personal information online. Limit how much personal info you give out and keep an eye out for any signs of fake identities being created in your name.
9. Be wary of shopping on social media platforms. Watch out for fake accounts and products, and always double-check offers before you buy anything to keep your personal and financial details safe.
On Black Friday, waiting in line is a big part of the deal. Once, a customer saw a guy waiting in line from Tuesday before Black Friday, hoping to snag a new TV. When the doors finally opened, he made a beeline for the TV section. Sadly, all the TVs were already gone. Why? Because there was another entrance that was actually closer to the TV section, and he didn't know about it.
A popular TikTok video shared by DeJay Downey claimed that a Target store was selling Black Friday deals at the same prices as their regular deals all year round. Downey pointed out identical price tags on different items, and many people lambasted Target online.
Target stood by its pricing strategy by claiming that the items were already discounted before Black Friday and remained so during the event. They argued that customers would still save money compared to the regular prices.
The video got over 38.4 million views and sparked intense debates on social media. Lots of people chimed in, sharing similar stories and showing how disappointing today's Black Friday deals are.
Employees at stores on Black Friday often witness some bizarre incidents. For instance, there was a person who worked at Sam's Club on Black Friday and witnessed a woman attempting to stuff frozen lobster tails into her pants.
If you've made a purchase from a fake website, act quickly. Reach out to your bank or credit card provider right away and let them know about the order. Then, report the fraudulent website to the FTC. You can also share your experience on review sites to warn others and prevent them from falling into similar traps.
The FBI notes that the most widespread holiday scams in recent years have been non-payment and non-delivery.
According to a 2022 report from the FTC, Generation X, millennials, and Generation Z are the groups most likely to lose money from scams. However, everyone is vulnerable to being scammed or losing money. Therefore, it's crucial to learn how to recognize fraud to protect your finances and personal information.
Though there's no foolproof method to avoid all scams, you can take steps to lower the risk. Shop at stores you know and trust, use a credit card when making purchases, and carefully review your statements to ensure they match up with what you've spent.
