Black Friday is back for 2022 – Friday 25th November
It’s become a tradition for retailers to have “unbelievable” sales just before Christmas, often known as Black Friday sales. These events are attractive to everybody, including Cyber Criminals. Such events are an ideal opportunity for them to prey on the innocent. Black Friday, together with the current cost of living crisis has created the perfect recipe for target scams.
If you really want to stay safe ideally, you’d visit the shop to make your purchase, however, online shopping offers greater convenience to shopping outside of normal retail hours.
If you really need to buy online, DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST, otherwise, your online purchase may cost more than you originally thought! Last year on Black Friday weekend the average scam value was £1000.
Scams rose by 34% in 2021 from 2020 and are predicted to rise again in 2022.
Social Media can play a large part in the way scammers present unbelievable offers as well as target potential victims by email.
If the offer seems too good to be true it usually is and should be avoided.
9 out of 10 people look to save money on Christmas gifts during the Black Friday sales.
Ross Martin, head of digital safety at Barclays, says: ‘Whilst Black Friday is a great way for Britons to save money ahead of the Christmas season, it is important to stay vigilant when making purchases. This year more than ever, people will be looking for the best bargains, which could lead them right into the hands of scammers, who will be advertising false offers to lure victims in.”
Scammers often use time pressure as a way to lure you in such as ‘offer only valid for next 4 hours!’ The fear of missing out on such a good deal can often cloud your judgement.
Well-known retailers such as Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Boots are often featured in social media scams. Post using their company logos stating, ‘Like and share this post to receive your £100 gift card/voucher.”
Further advice about scams can be found on the Nation Cyber Security Centre [read more].
Three Actions:
Pause – Pause for thought. Think before paying for anything and about what information you are sharing
Question – Is this fake? If you’re being pushed, you will make mistakes (and they could be costly)
Safeguard – If you believe you have been scammed, contact your bank/card provider immediately.
If you have to buy online, make sure the website is HTTPS:// (the S is a significant character) and it should also display a locked padlock.
If you have any questions or would like to have a private chat about staying safe when making online purchases, you can book to speak with Rob Gibbons – Cara Technology – via the calendar here: https://cara.uk.com/robertgibbons
