Looking forward to the ultimate shopping event of the year? You’re not the only one. Cyber criminals are gearing up for Black Friday as well, hoping to trick you with increasingly sophisticated scams. Here are four common tactics they use.
“Now 75% off on LEGO! Selling out fast!” Screaming headlines like these are designed to make you click a link quickly and without thinking. Be cautious when you spot them in your e-mail inbox or in social media ads. They could be scams.
Another way cyber criminals try to steal from you is by impersonating parcel couriers. Did you get a message about a parcel you don’t know anything about? Don’t reply to it.
And even search results aren’t safe. Scammers buy ad space to promote fake websites that sell popular products. These sites may look like the real thing but exist solely to steal personal and financial information.
What-to-do’s
Make sure to check off all actions, this will have a positive effect on your Behavioural Risk Score.
- Double-check deals by visiting retailer websites directly, not through links in emails or ads.
- Ignore messages about unknown parcels and verify directly with courier services if unsure.
- Use search engines cautiously; avoid clicking on sponsored ads for popular products.
Lessons learned
Black Friday scams exploit urgency and trust, using fake deals, courier messages, and counterfeit websites to trick shoppers. Always pause to verify before clicking or sharing any personal information. Slowing down is your best defence.
Note – this is part of our ongoing Cyber awareness and training from Phished Academy.
