Your Black Friday Deal Could Be a Trap—Here’s Why

As Black Friday approaches, so does the excitement. Yet, amidst all those enticing deals, there are risks: phony websites, phishing scams, and shady offers. Thousands have fallen victim each year, so before hitting that “buy” button, consider what could be lurking behind that flashy discount.

Common Online Shopping Scams to Watch Out For During Sales Events

In the scramble to snag Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargains, shoppers can easily overlook the warning signals of an online scam. Here are some common traps to watch out for during major sales events.

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Bogus E-commerce Sites

Scammers make sites that just look like popular online shops and will often have great deals on items as a lure. These look-a-like sites are pretty convincing, too, except they do not ship products. Instead, they collect the money without intending to make a shipment at all. Just imagine: You finally get that big discount on what seems to be the perfect item, pay for it, then find out afterward that the site was a scam.

Phishing Links in Emails and Ads

The sale season hits inboxes hard with promotional messages and ads. Unfortunately, some of these can include phishing links to direct you to fake login pages or checkout portals to capture your sensitive information. Clicking the links might allow scammers to capture sensitive details like passwords and bank account details.

Payment Platform Risks

Some scammer sites force less-known or suspicious modes of payment in exchange for greater discounts or advantages in return. These unfamiliar platforms often lack buyer protection, so create a greater risk of untraceable charges or data theft. If you feel that a site seems to force a specific and unfamiliar form of payment, take it as a potential red flag that could lead to financial loss with little chance of recovery.

Being mindful of these scams helps you stay safer when deals seem too good to resist.

The Hidden Costs of Falling for Online Scams

Falling victim to an online scam can be more than losing some money. The financial loss is pretty immediate, but it can extend into privacy concerns, credit issues, and overall well-being.

Financial Setbacks and Time

Cyber scams are usually about getting to a victim’s money without them knowing. You may end up with unauthorized transactions, pay for something on a fraudulent website, or pay hidden charges that can quickly add up.

As an example, you might be tricked into believing you got an excellent deal on a tech gadget. However, later you see charges that you don’t recognize when you examine the statement against your account balance.These problems take time to resolve because initiating a fraud investigation with your bank is typically a long-winded process.

Privacy Risks and Identity Theft

Apart from financial loss, scams can reveal your sensitive information online, which could lead to identity theft. When a scammer has access to personal details like full name, address, or Social Security number, then they have the option to impersonate you or potentially open new accounts. This hurts your privacy, leading to possible distress if any misuse of information is traced back to you.

Lingering Effects on Your Financial Health

Effects of being scammed can continue for a long time after the actual incident took place. Fraudulent charges and unauthorized accounts may affect your credit, causing problems for longer-term goals like saving for a home. 

If you do fall victim, for some people, it can be an additional source of stress due to disrupted ease and confidence about shopping online.

Understanding these effects justifies the reasons for adopting good safe online shopping practices, especially during risky shopping events.

Why Scammers Ramp Up Fake Stores and Phishing on Black Friday

Black Friday is bound to attract an incredibly large volume of users doing online shopping. For scammers, this translates into more people to target and therefore is an ideal setting for creating fictitious stores and phishing schemes.

High Online Traffic, More Targets

When millions of customers are browsing for the best prices, fake websites and phishing usually show up, offering very realistic deals. Scammers know that within such a busy environment, they can reach more people, which increases their chances that at least a few people may fall into their traps.

Low Cost, High Return

Creating a dummy site has become easy and inexpensive, especially with AI assistants. Scammers can appear very similar in design to retailers that people use frequently. This means that the website itself appears real, but people do not know that by using the site their personal or payment details go to someone with malicious intent.

Impulsivity Fuels Risk

Excitement over a deal with a tight timeline can influence impulsive decisions. Scammers use this thrill to bypass caution and make it easier for shoppers to give away sensitive information.

How to Spot and Avoid Fake Sites and Phishing Attempts

Scammers are getting more professional in creating credible fake sites and phishing emails. Recognizing the warning signs is important. Below are some practical ways to spot scams before they can breach your security.

Spotting Fake E-commerce Sites

Scammers often set up sites that are strikingly similar to popular retailers in hopes of catching users off guard. Here is what to look out for:

• Odd URLs: Note the URL of the website. Most fake websites will introduce minor changes in their web addresses by adding extra characters, amending letters, or changing common extensions such as changing .com to .net.
• Missing Contact Information: Genuine retailers have contact details, whether it be a phone number for customer service or an e-mail address. On scamming websites, the contact information is missing, or the contact pages appear to be broken.
• Unrealistic Discounts: A deal that is “too good to be true,” probably is… Be wary of any site offering impossible or unrealistically high discounts, such as 70 percent off expensive products, without a legitimate source to back it up. Falling into such scams may cause financial losses or privacy concerns.

Recognizing Phishing Emails and Messages

Phishing scams are on the increase. Scammers use urgent wording to try to force immediate action. Here are a few common red flags:

• Flag 1 – Generic Greetings: Legitimate companies are usually able to address you by your name when contacting you. Phishing emails commonly use generic openers such as “Dear Customer” or “Dear User.”
• Flag 2 – Urgent Language: Phrases such as “Act Now! ” or “Limited Time Offer! ” are designed to get you clicking on links without a thought. Be wary of messages requiring urgent action from you.
• Flag 3 – Suspicious Links: Hover over any link in an email to display the URL. If the address does not match the website, then it’s likely a phish attempt. Avoid clicking these links.

These simple practices can help you confidently avoid fake sites and phishing attempts, keeping your online shopping experience safe.

Essential Tips for Safe Shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Retailers make most of their profit on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and scammers want to cash in, too. Here are some tips to keep you safe while shopping during these sale events.

1.  Verify if the Website is Genuine

Before making any purchase, take one minute to ensure the site is valid. Scammers create fake sites with URLs that often appear like top retailers. 

Check for security indicators such as ‘https’ at the beginning of the URL and a padlock symbol. Keep in mind that a HTTPS certificate doesn’t always mean a site is legit. So additionally, check online for real user experiences of the site (Trust Pilot, Reddit, Forums…)

These little things can make a big difference in how safe your information is.

2. Use Secure Payment Methods

The protection you get depends a lot on your mode of payment. Opt for a credit card over a debit card, as credit cards often offer better fraud protection. Even better for security would be a virtual card, a temporary card issued solely for the completion of a single transaction. If a virtual card number falls into the wrong hands, it can’t be reused.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication provides extra security to your account, especially any that stores payment details. Along with your password, a 2FA code to your phone or email helps keep thieves out, even with your password.

4. Do Not Give Out More Information Than Is Needed

Only provide the necessary information upon checkout. That means being very circumspect in filling out information such as your Social Security number unless absolutely necessary. The risk of identity theft increases with the more information you give, especially with a site that has its security compromised in any way.

By following these steps, you can go shopping with significantly greater confidence on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

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Spotlight on Protection: How Avast Free Antivirus Can Safeguard Your Shopping

Amidst all the fun and excitement of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, keeping yourself safe online is key. Avast Free Antivirus offers practical, seamless protection that lets you shop with confidence, helping to keep your personal and financial information secure.

Phishing Site Detection

More and more frequently, online danger presents itself in the form of phishing sites that masquerade as legitimate companies to steal information. Avast‘s Phishing Site Detection warns you when it identifies suspicious sites so that you don’t unknowingly enter any sensitive information.

Real-Time Threat Blocking

Avast Free Antivirus actively searches for and blocks malicious sites in real-time. For example, you are browsing for a sale, click a site and you get a warning that the website could be harmful. Avast’s response proactively blocks access to unwanted sites and helps  protect your device.

User-Friendly Interface

With a simple setup and few distractions, Avast Free Antivirus doesn’t interrupt your browsing experience by bogging you down with complicated configurations. It runs in the background, protecting and continuing to do so as you spend your time hunting for the best deals.

It is easy to enhance online shopping security easily and effectively with Avast Free Antivirus, which provides essential defences. So browse the sales and complete your transactions confidently with Avast’s proactive protection.

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Shop Confidently and Stay Protected This Season

With just a few precautions and the right tools, you’ll be confidently celebrating Black Friday and Cyber Monday. By following these tips and by equipping yourself with Avast Free Antivirus, you add a layer of protection that blocks the threats. You can be more confident in surfing for deals and discounts. Downloading Avast Free Antivirus is an easy first step toward safer and smarter shopping this season.