{"id":21040,"date":"2024-11-20T11:27:30","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T11:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mensfitness.co.uk\/?p=21040"},"modified":"2024-11-20T11:27:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T11:27:36","slug":"how-to-avoid-shopping-scams-on-black-friday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mensfitness.co.uk\/features\/how-to-avoid-shopping-scams-on-black-friday\/","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid shopping scams on Black Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Black Friday<\/a> \u2013 the pre-Christmas retail frenzy that offers hefty discounts on tech, homeware, fitness gear and everything in between \u2013 can save you some serious cash. But the bad news is it can also be a playground for scammers looking to take advantage of eager online shoppers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re preparing for the biggest shopping day of the year on 29 November, you need to be aware of the potential scams and know how to protect yourself. If you don\u2019t, you could end up with a nasty dent in your wallet. Or worse, become the victim of online payment fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the help of industry experts, we’ve compiled the most common Black Friday shopping scams and ways to avoid falling victim to them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common scams to look out for<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter what you\u2019re shopping for, don\u2019t think you\u2019re ever immune to the threat of cybercrooks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steven Dick, co-director at <\/span>The Fitness Group<\/span><\/a>, says scams in any industry \u2013 even the fitness sector \u2013 are an issue all year round but particularly so on Black Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScammers are all too aware that it’s the time of year that people are likely to be looking to spend more than they otherwise would,\u201d Dick says.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe tactics which are used to deceive purchasers are very crafty and can catch anyone out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the typical scams all shoppers should be aware of when buying anything online during this year\u2019s Black Friday:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phishing emails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Watch out for emails that claim to offer exclusive deals. While many retailers will promote their Black Friday bargains via email, cybercriminals can mimic popular sellers by creating a fake but very similar email address and then replicating the format and language style of genuine emails from the retailer. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fraudulent email will contain a link to a fake website where its sole purpose is to steal your information,\u201d explains Stuart Deavall, digital marketing manager at <\/span>NetGiant<\/span><\/a>. \u201cA simple way to tell if a website is secure is to check whether the site has a security certificate, which should be evident by a small padlock next to the URL.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Look for the padlock to the left of a site’s URL to make sure it’s authentic and secure<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Fake websites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anne Cutler, cybersecurity evangelist at <\/span>Keeper Security<\/span><\/a>, warns that it\u2019s common for cybercriminals to set up malicious fake \u201conline stores\u201d whose only purpose is to steal payment card data and other personal information. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStick with retailers that are well known or that you’ve done business with before,\u201d she says. \u201cIf the website and deal feels too good to be true, it probably is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bait-and-switch tactics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s worth having your wits about you, even when shopping on the high street. Some sellers may advertise a specific item at a low price, but when you visit the store, they claim it’s sold out and try to upsell a more expensive alternative. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStick to trusted retailers and always read reviews beforehand,\u201d advises Dick. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smishing  <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common scam that\u2019s growing in popularity is ‘smishing’ \u2013 the act of using SMS text messages as a trap, whereby scammers will pose as a business, claiming that a parcel is being delivered to your address. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis scam could be easier to fall for during Black Friday, when you may have made multiple orders on different sites, and are waiting for goods to be delivered,\u201d says Deavall. <\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\u201cThe criminal may send a link for you to click through; if it\u2019s unclear who the sender is, based on the URL, you shouldn’t open the link.\u201d<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>To report a suspicious text to your mobile provider, the <\/span>UK Government<\/span><\/a> recommends forwarding any texts that don\u2019t feel legit to 7726 for free. In the US you can report fraud on the Department of Justice<\/a> website or via the Internet Crime Complaints Centre<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malicious mobile apps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fraudulent mobile apps are also very common during the Black Friday sales season, says Cutler. In the same way that fake websites look almost identical to their authentic counterparts, mobile apps will masquerade as the real deal with no intention of sending you the item you paid for.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDesigned to look like legitimate shopping apps, these platforms can contain malware, steal personal information and deceive users into making purchases that never arrive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Using your home WiFi to make purchases can help prevent cyber criminals pinching your personal information<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Customer support impersonation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another prevalent scam used by online crooks involves fraudsters claiming to be customer support from large companies, especially popular retailers where you might have made a Black Friday order. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWatch out for text messages claiming that you’ve made multiple expensive purchases that you need to verify,\u201d warns Deavall.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe aim of the scam is to lure you into responding that you haven\u2019t authorised the transaction, which can then lead to you resetting your password.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this process, the imposters can gain access to your sensitive information and steal passwords and login details.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for avoiding Black Friday scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now you\u2019re aware of the common tactics scammers use to try and con you into taking your money, here are some of the best ways to be more vigilant when shopping online:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the small print<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scammers might promote irresistible deals such as cheap gym memberships, but they often come with hidden fees or long-term commitments. Read the fine print, and be wary once again of providing your personal details.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid using public Wi-Fi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although you may see a great Black Friday deal and want to make the most of the bargain there and then, it\u2019s always a wise idea to wait until you can make the purchase using your private WiFi connection or mobile data. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny public network is open to abuse, meaning there is always the chance that a fraudster is monitoring your activity and can log your payment details,\u201d says Deavall.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe bottom line is that, even if you miss the deal, there will always be alternative offers to take advantage of, with some retailers waiting until Cyber Monday to make their best and final reductions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look out for unsecured websites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ensure the website you’re buying products from has a secure URL, for example, one which starts with ‘https:\/\/’, and avoid making purchases on unencrypted or suspicious sites. This will go a long way in helping you protect your personal and financial information.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t give in to pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Be aware that scammers often create a sense of urgency by claiming deals are available for a limited time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dick recommends not to rush into purchases. \u201cTake your time to research and make informed decisions,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sceptical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, Cutler recommends not being too trusting and be determined to not<\/span> let the scammers win. <\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\u201cKeep your eyes open, practise good cyber hygiene and employ a healthy dose of scepticism when seeking out the hot holiday deals this season.”<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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