Black Friday and Cyber Monday Scams: How to Shop Safely

By J. Mesa

It’s that time again! Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring some of the best prices of the year. They also bring scammers, who know that shoppers in a hurry check fewer details.

Here is how to get the deals and keep your money.

Why do scammers love Black Friday?

Shoppers expect big discounts. A fake 80 percent discount looks plausible for one week of the year.
Deals have deadlines. Real time limits make fake urgency harder to spot.
Inboxes overflow. A scam email hides among hundreds of real promotions.
People try new stores. A shopper chasing a deal will buy from a site they have never used.

What are the most common Black Friday scams?

Fake online stores that take payment and send nothing, or send a counterfeit
Phishing emails and texts that imitate real retailers
Fake order and delivery notices that link to malicious sites
Social media ads for products that don’t exist
Bogus coupon and gift card offers that collect personal details
Counterfeit apps that imitate a retailer’s shopping app

How do I know a website is secure?

Before you enter a card number, check that the address starts with “HTTPS” and shows a lock icon. That means the site encrypts what you send.

The lock does not prove the store is real. Fake stores use encryption too. Use the next section to check the seller.

How do I spot a fake store?

Check the address. Look for misspellings, extra words, or an unusual ending.
Look for contact details and a return policy.
Search for reviews on independent sites, not only on the store itself.
Compare prices. A price far below every competitor is a warning.
Check the payment options. A store that takes only wire transfers, payment apps, or cryptocurrency is unsafe.
Look at the writing and images. Copied photos and awkward text suggest a quick copy of another site.

How do I tell a real deal from a fake one?

If a deal seems too good to be true, it is. Be careful with offers that:

Last only minutes and show a countdown timer
Ask for personal or financial details before you can “claim” them
Arrive by text or direct message from an unknown sender
Come through an ad for a store you can’t find elsewhere

Go to the retailer’s own website by typing its address. If the deal is real, you will find it there.

How do I protect my accounts?

Create a strong, unique password for each online account and use a password manager to keep track. Turn on two-factor authentication for your email and your main shopping accounts. Those steps keep a breach at one store from spreading to the rest.

Should I click links in sale emails and texts?

Be careful. Scammers copy the design of real promotions. Even when a message comes from a company you shop with, confirm it before you click.

Check the sender’s full address
Hover over a link to see where it leads
Type the store’s address yourself when you are unsure

What is the safest way to pay?

Use a credit card. It gives you the strongest fraud protection and a dispute process.
Use a digital wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay where a store offers it. The store never receives your card number.
Avoid debit cards for online purchases. Fraud takes money straight from your account.
Never pay a seller by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency.

What should I avoid posting on social media?

Be careful about what you share during the season.

Don’t announce that you are out of town
Don’t post photos of expensive new purchases
Don’t share order confirmations or tracking numbers

That information tells burglars and package thieves when and where to look.

How do I keep my packages safe?

Track deliveries and bring packages in the same day
Use a pickup locker or ship to your workplace if nobody is home
Require a signature for expensive items
Ask a neighbor to collect packages when you travel

How do I shop safely on my phone?

Download shopping apps only from the official app store
Check the developer’s name and the number of reviews
Keep your phone’s software up to date
Avoid making purchases on public Wi-Fi. Use mobile data.

How do I prepare before Black Friday?

Update your computer, phone, and browser.
Turn on two-factor authentication for your email.
Set up transaction alerts with your card issuer.
Make a list of what you want and where you will buy it.
Bookmark those stores, so you don’t need to follow links.

A plan keeps you from making rushed decisions when the sales start.

What should I do if I fall for a scam?

Call your card issuer and dispute the charge.
Change the password on any account you used.
Report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov.
Report the fake store or ad to the platform where you found it.
Watch your statements for further charges.

How should a small business prepare?

If you sell during the holiday rush, criminals target you too.

Update your website, shopping cart, and plugins before the season
Watch for unusual orders, such as many small test charges
Warn staff about fake supplier invoices and gift card requests
Tell customers how you will contact them, so they can spot impostors

Are buy now, pay later plans safe?

They are legitimate services, and they carry weaker dispute rights than a credit card in some cases. Read the terms before you use one, and sign up through the retailer’s checkout or the provider’s own app. Scammers send fake “payment overdue” messages in the names of these services, so check your balance in the app, not through a link.

Your next step

Bookmark your favorite stores and set up card alerts before the sales begin. With those two steps and the checks above, you protect yourself and your loved ones from scammers this season. Happy shopping! If your business wants its team ready for the holiday rush, contact Cerberus Cybersecurity about our cybersecurity training.