With Thanksgiving approaching, the holiday shopping season is upon us. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, and every other “one day only” sale in between, consumers are gearing up to shop online, with an estimated spending of nearly $10 billion.
Unfortunately, this also means scammers will be out in full force, trying to take advantage of the online shopping frenzy to steal personal and financial data. Even the most cautious consumers can fall for deals that seem too good to be true.
Here are some of the top Black Friday shopping scams to be aware of this year.
Brand Impersonation Scams
One of the most common methods scammers use against online shoppers is brand impersonation. This cyber-attack involves using well-known brand names to trick shoppers into entering their financial and personal information on malicious websites. Scammers achieve this through communications offering early sale access, discounts or holiday shopping incentives. They also use advertisements on social media and create fake social media business pages that lead to malicious websites and links.
Fraudulent Shipping Notifications
Another scam that picks up steam around the holidays is fraudulent shipping notifications. The holiday shopping season is an especially vulnerable time for many, as we are likely doing more online shopping, shipping and receiving than usual. Fraudulent shipping scams, whether received by text, email or phone calls, impersonate legitimate shipping services like USPS, UPS and FedEx. They contain malicious links disguised as tracking numbers or website links.
Gift Card Scams
Gift cards are one of the most popular and practical gifts, which is why gift card-related scams see a significant increase during the holiday season. Primarily via phishing and smishing, scammers send emails impersonating e-gift cards that lead to malicious links or websites. Contrary to popular belief, physical gift cards aren’t always a safer option. In fact, scammers in Santa Clara have found ways to tamper with and return gift cards to physical stores, leaving consumers empty-handed when trying to redeem funds.
How To Spot and Avoid Black Friday Scams
Scams often share common warning signs, regardless of the time of year. Here are some tips to help you identify and avoid them:
Unsolicited and Urgent Messages: Be wary of unsolicited communications with urgent calls to action, such as delayed shipping or flash sales. If you receive such a message, it’s best to ignore it. If you think it might be legitimate, verify by visiting the retailer’s website or contacting customer service directly, but avoid clicking any links in the message.
Visual Warning Signs: Watch out for advertisements or communications with stretched or distorted images, such as brand logos or grammatical errors. Legitimate companies are usually very careful with their marketing materials, especially during the holidays. If something seems off, delete, ignore or report it. This also applies to physical gift cards; if you notice ripped packaging, damaged edges or discolored barcodes, report them to store management as they may have been tampered with.
Odd Payment Methods: When shopping online, use a major credit card, as they often have built-in fraud protection and are easier to deal with than debit cards. While some vendors may offer payment methods like PayPal, Venmo or CashApp, if they don’t accept credit cards, it’s best to avoid them.
Remember, there will always be great deals after Thanksgiving, but stay vigilant, both online and in-store. Scammers are just as excited about holiday shopping as you are.
About Schneider Downs Cybersecurity
We help your organization be prepared. The Schneider Downs cybersecurity practice consists of experts offering a comprehensive set of information technology security services, including Penetration Testing, Intrusion Prevention/Detection Review, Ransomware Security, Vulnerability Assessments, and a robust Digital Forensics and Incident Response Team.
Learn more at www.schneiderdowns.com/cybersecurity or contact us at [email protected].
