Black Friday Scams

A Black Friday scam is a trick used by scammers to steal your money, personal information, or even your identity during the busy shopping period around Black Friday.

What is a Black Friday Shopping Scam?

A Black Friday shopping scam happens when scammers trick you into believing you’re getting great deals during the Black Friday sales, but instead, they steal your money, personal information, or credit card details. These scams take advantage of the excitement and rush of holiday shopping when people are less cautious.

How Do Black Friday Shopping Scams Work?

Fake Online Stores

Scammers create fake websites or apps that look like real online stores. They might offer unbelievable discounts on popular items. You pay for the item, but it never arrives, or they steal your credit card information.

The image below is an example of a fraudulent site abusing the North Face clothing e-shop that appeared  in October 2024. There are three warning signs in red that you should be aware of:

1. The domain northfaceblackfriday.shop is not the official domain of the e-shop and looks suspicious at first glance. Fraudulent sites often use lesser known domains: .top, .shop, .store, and .vip.

2. Scammers are trying to get your attention with an absurdly high discount. The offer of up to 80% off is too good to be true.

3. The sign "Trusted Store" aims to assure you that your purchase will be safe. But the opposite is true.

Fake Social Media Ads

Ads on platforms like Facebook or Instagram might promote "Black Friday mega sales." When you click, you’re taken to a scam website, or they might ask you to pay directly through unsafe methods.

The image above is a fraudulent Facebook post. Note two warning signs:

1. Too high a discount that is not realistic. Scammers are just trying to get your attention.

2. The link leads from Facebook to the fraud website with the domain northfacecoat.shop. As mentioned earlier, official e-shops are not on lesser-known and used domains such as .shop.

Phishing Emails and Text Messages

You might get emails or texts pretending to be from a big retailer like Amazon, IKEA, or Lidl. These messages often include links that lead to fake websites where you’re asked to enter personal or payment details.

Example  of an email with fraudulent content:

This is a form of phishing, read more in our article .

Gift Card Scams

Scammers might send messages claiming you’ve won a gift card or ask you to pay with a gift card instead of a secure payment method like a credit card. Once the gift card code is sent, the money is gone forever.

Fake Order or Delivery Alerts

You might receive an email or text saying there’s an issue with a package you ordered or asking you to confirm payment. Clicking on the link may install harmful software on your device or steal your login information.

How to Avoid Black Friday Shopping Scams

• Shop Only on Trusted Websites: Stick to websites you know or retailers with good reputations. Check the URL carefully to make sure it’s correct (e.g., amazon.com not amaz0n-sale.com).

• Be Cautious of Unbelievable Discounts: If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is a scam. Compare prices with trusted stores before buying.

• Avoid Clicking on Unknown Links: Never click on links in emails, texts, or social media ads unless you’re sure they’re from a trusted source.

• Look for Secure Payments: Use credit cards first and beware of fake payment gateways on sites that look suspicious. Avoid paying with gift cards, wire transfers, or direct bank transfers.

• Verify the Website: Check reviews of unfamiliar online stores and see if they have a legitimate address and contact information.

• Be Wary of Urgent Messages: Scammers often try to rush you with messages like “Only a few left!” or “Sale ends in an hour!” Don’t act without thinking.