Black Fraud Day Alert: Beware of Black Friday Scams, Shoppers Warned!

As Black Friday approaches, you’re likely eager to snap up some deals on holiday gifts. Your inbox is flooded with promotions, making it tough to discern the good from the too good. Suddenly, an amazing deal pops up from your go-to clothing retailer.

You click the link in the email, hoping to purchase a sweater you’ve been eyeing. The site appears just like the one you frequently visit, so you confidently transfer money for the purchase and relax, thinking you’ve snagged a great deal.

Regrettably, the sweater will never arrive. You’ve just been caught up in a scam, a common enough occurrence that experts have started calling Black Friday “Black Fraud Day.”

This year, Black Friday falls on November 28, but some retailers begin advertising deals weeks earlier. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advises consumers to remain vigilant during this period and to stop any transaction that seems off.

According to the cybersecurity company Darktrace, there’s been a noticeable increase in malicious emails mentioning Black Friday throughout October, with a significant spike on the last day of the month.

Jonathon Ellison from the NCSC emphasizes that this period is a prime time for cybercriminals to exploit our spending habits. They use well-known brands, popular products, and current events to lure people into clicking harmful links or divulging personal and financial details.

With advancements in artificial intelligence, it’s now easier for these criminals to create convincing websites that mimic reputable brands, tricking shoppers into making financial commitments.

Criminals might also set up fictitious small businesses, as noted by Adrian Ludwig of Tools for Humanity. He explains that AI enables fraudsters to quickly generate fake business identities, complete with believable personas and visually appealing storefronts.

Identifying the Scam

Scams can reach you via email or appear on social media, often posted from newly created accounts.

The consumer advocacy group Which? advises that one of the first red flags should be prices that are significantly lower than those on other sites.

Upon clicking the link, you might find a website lacking essential elements like a privacy policy, a physical address, or an “about us” section.

These fraudulent sites often avoid secure payment methods like credit or debit cards, instead requesting bank transfers—a method favored by organized crime. Websites asking for payment in cryptocurrency are also suspect.

Beware of slightly altered URLs where scammers may change letters or numbers to deceive hurried shoppers, as pointed out by Nathaniel Jones of Darktrace.

Urgency is another common tactic used by these sites; they may claim that a deal is about to expire, or that only a few items are left in stock, pressuring you to act quickly.

Steps to Take

The NCSC recommends forwarding any suspicious emails to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service. Suspicious texts should be sent to 7726.

If you’re unfortunate enough to fall victim to a scam and lose money, in the UK you should contact Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting center.

Above all, stay vigilant. If something about a deal feels off, take a moment to think it over. Whenever possible, use a credit card for purchases since many transactions are protected under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in the UK.