Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Festive Season Shopping Scams
- Esteffan Coetzee
- Nov 16, 2023
- 1 min read
As we gear up for the shopping extravaganza of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the start of the Festive Season shopping, it's important to keep an eye out for those sneaky scams that might pop up amidst the fantastic deals. Basically, we’re saying less card swiping and more detective work!🕵️
Understanding the Scammers' Psychology
Scammers use emotional tricks to fool us. During the holiday hustle and bustle, they play on our feelings of rush, worry, and excitement. As we all scramble to snag great deals and hot items, we might drop our guard, making it easier for these tricksters to pounce. Learning how to spot these scams is your secret shield against becoming their next target.
The Top 3 Scams to Avoid
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Fake Order Scams It's easy to lose track of your orders. Scammers take advantage of this by sending phoney order confirmations via email or text. They might look real but can hide nasty stuff like malware or phishing links designed to snatch your identity. | Fake Website Scams Scammers blend in with legitimate companies by crafting fake emails and web links that look convincing. These tricky phishing emails can lead you to scammy websites, where they snatch up your login info and payment details. | Fake Discount Scams In this sneaky scheme, scammers dangle tempting discounts on hot products like a carrot on a stick. When you click their ads, they whisk you away to a fake website, aiming to swipe your personal and financial info. |
Alright Sherlock, so how do we stay safe during this busy season?
Stick with known, legitimate retailers online
Only shop from websites you trust—think of unfamiliar websites as the house at the end of the block that gives out raisins on Halloween. No thanks, sis!
Did I order this?
To stay safe, stick to tracking your orders on the seller's website or platform directly. Don't let the scammers rain on your shopping parade!
Keep an eye out for "https://"
Steer clear of clicking on email links. Instead, be your own detective and type in the website's URL manually when hunting for deals.
Are you real or nah?
Compare the prices with those on the official manufacturer's or trusted retailer's websites. And don't forget to snoop around for contact info from the seller. If it's missing or the site looks brand-spanking-new, be cautious—it might be a scam in disguise!
Keep your magnifying glass close!
Treat your bank statement like your social media feed - check it religiously, be alert, and know who’s doing what! Report any suspicious activity to your bank.
Keep up with the times
Giving your credit card info over the phone is so last century. Keep it safe, keep it secure, keep it to yourself!
A VPN is your best friend
Public Wi-Fi is the Wild West of Internet use. Whenever you are handing over credit card details online, make sure you're using an encrypted website (look for the padlock) and you're using a VPN if on public WiFi.
Do your research
When opening a new retail account be sure to not give away your private information to scammers (first name, address, social security number). Make sure this information is going to a legitimate business and not the scammer next door!
Beware of the mosquitoes
Skimming devices are sneaky gadgets that thieves use to steal information from your credit card. They put these devices on ATM machines, right over where you put your card in. You can tell if one's there by checking if the buttons on the ATM are weird or hard to press. To stop these sneaky thieves, you should give the ATM a little wiggle and see if anything feels loose. Also, look at the ATM next to it and make sure they look the same. Stop the mosquitoes from sucking away your funds!
Report that shiz!
Lost or stolen card? Don’t dilly-dally, report it faster than a raccoon finding a freshly opened bin! Always report a stolen or lost card to your bank.
The best way to protect yourself while you make purchases this holiday season is to be vigilant. Don’t trust something if it seems too good to be true. At the same time, don’t let this fraud threat stop you from enjoying this time. Act smart, do your best to keep your personal information safe, and have a Merry Christmas!
GoldPhish educates end-users on the cyber threat and helps build more secure organisations with awareness training and simulated phishing
Get in touch for more information: info@goldphish.com
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