Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year and with so many discounts on the market, it can feel like an offer you can鈥檛 refuse.
However, sometimes holding back and double checking that what you're buying is legitimate can be the safest thing to do. Each year a growing number of people are falling victim to online scams, leading many to believe that Black Friday is quickly becoming Black Fraud Day. So what can be done to avoid these fraud schemes?
1. What are the most common Black Friday scams to watch out for?
Social media traps play a huge role in Black Friday scams. Action Fraud, the UK鈥檚 scam reporting centre, said that social media platforms were mentioned in 43% of reports in 2023, with online marketplaces accounting for 18.9% of mentions. Offers involving high-end tech and clothing listed on social media are among some of the most common ways to scam people.
Phishing emails and messages are also a cause for concern. The telecoms company Three said that its customers reported close to 3,500 scam messages each day during the Black Friday period in 2023.
If you are shopping online, you should check the URL of the website carefully, particularly when it comes to questioning why something may be sold at such a low price.
2. How can I avoid getting scammed online?
There are a number of ways to avoid being scammed online. The UK鈥檚 National Cyber Security Agency (NCSC) encourage people to set up two-step verification on their most important accounts. This means that there are at least 2 ways for you to prove who you are and access your account.
On top of this, the NCSC warn shoppers to proceed with caution if they encounter certain behaviours typically employed by scammers. This includes any websites, posts or listings that urge you to act quickly. Cyber criminals often create a false sense of urgency by using limited-time offers or promoting items that seem like they鈥檙e not widely available, so take your time when buying things online.
To boost your online security, you should also create a password that鈥檚 difficult for someone else to guess. Features of a strong password include at least eight characters, a mixture of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters and other symbols, not a real word and impossible to guess.
Spelling and grammatical errors can sometimes be a tell-tale sign that a Black Friday deal may be a scam - so take a step back and think, does this look like something a proper business would put on their website?
You should also avoid bank transfers, and remember not to share your personal information online.
3. How can I verify if a Black Friday deal is legitimate?
Which?, an organisation that offers support to consumers, also has some advice:
鈥 Beware fake websites, which look like a genuine retailer's website. Check that the URL is that of the official brand.
鈥 Watch out for posts from a newly created social media account, or links to a recently created website.
鈥 Read reviews and only buy from authorised sellers and websites.
More top tips to stay safe while shopping online
UK Finance has a 鈥楾ake five to stop fraud鈥 campaign, which aims to help people learn about the risks of scams and spot the red flags. Their campaign says:
Stop 鈥 take the time to think before parting with money or information.
Challenge 鈥 it's okay to be cautious and reject a request if there are any concerns.
Protect 鈥 by contacting your bank immediately if you think you've been scammed.
4. How are cybercriminals using AI to scam shoppers?
The development of new technologies has played a role in the rise of cyber security issues. According to the NCSC cyber criminals are likely using AI technology, such as large language models, to produce more convincing scam emails, fake adverts and bogus websites.
5. What should you you do if you think you鈥檝e been scammed?
If you have fallen victim to a scam there are many things you can do.
It is essential to stay calm and report the scam to your bank or whichever company you used to purchase the item. This could limit the fraudster's ability to steal money and help increase your chance of having some of the stolen funds reimbursed.
Taking the time to report the crime is also important. You can file a report by contacting Action Fraud for fraud and cybercrime related issues. This means there will be a record of that fraud and can help improve the police鈥檚 understanding of the size of the problem.
This article was published in November 2024
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