Black Friday, the grandest shopping day of the year, is just around the corner. While the anticipation of colossal discounts and deals thrills many, it also signals open season for cunning scammers eagerly seeking to exploit unsuspecting shoppers. Scammers capitalize on human emotions, particularly during the frenzied holiday shopping season, by creating a sense of urgency, fear, or stress. Recognizing these tactics is the first crucial step in safeguarding against Black Friday scams.
Here are a few tips:
1. 𝗕𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 that pose as popular retailers, urging exclusive deals. Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links, verify sender email addresses, and never share personal information via email.
2. 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 by checking for “https” and a padlock symbol in the URL.
3. 𝗕𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝗽-𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗱𝘀, especially those promising freebies or huge discounts.
4. 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘀; download only from trusted sources and check reviews.
5. 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 by checking for a blue verification badge on official retailer pages and profiles.
Stay cautious to protect yourself from cyberthreats during the holiday season!
