Black Friday is quickly approaching, and shoppers are getting ready. The National Retail Federation predicts that more than 183 million people will be shopping over the Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday weekend this year. However, scammers are also gearing up for Black Friday, looking for ways to steal your money or personal information.
Before you start your holiday shopping, it’s essential to learn how to identify common scams and protect yourself.
1. Phony order and delivery notifications
Scammers often send phishing emails and text messages pretending to be delivery services or well-known retailers like Amazon. These messages may claim there’s an issue with processing or delivering your order and may ask for payment information or contain malicious links.
If you receive a message about a package when you’re not expecting one, be cautious. Even if you have placed an order, don’t ignore warning signs. Delivery services rarely hold packages or ask for payment, as shipping costs are typically charged to the shipper, not the recipient.
Avoid clicking on links in texts or emails, and don’t share personal or payment details. To confirm if an order update is legitimate, go back to the original order on the website. Log in, check the order status, and contact customer service directly if there are any issues.
2. Fake websites and products
When shopping online, be sure to thoroughly check sellers and products to avoid ending up with counterfeit items or nothing at all. Sponsored ads on social media platforms and search engines may not always be thoroughly vetted, leading to potential scams.
Scammers purchase Google ads for popular search terms or desirable products, directing users to sophisticated fake websites that mimic well-known sites like Macy’s. Shoppers either never receive the purchased product or receive an inferior version.
Ignore sponsored links and inspect URLs closely for any discrepancies. Look out for third-party seller scams on legitimate websites and read seller reviews before making a purchase. Be cautious of sellers asking for gift cards or peer-to-peer payments, and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Misleading QR codes
Scammers create QR codes that link to fraudulent websites or install malware on devices in a practice known as “quishing.” These codes may appear on parking meters, in mysterious packages, or in your email inbox.
Avoid scanning codes you receive unexpectedly and closely examine QR codes in public places for signs of tampering.
Other ways to protect yourself from holiday shopping scams:
– Freeze your credit to restrict access to your credit report and prevent unauthorized credit accounts from being opened.
– Monitor your accounts for unusual activity by checking credit reports and statements regularly.
– Consider shopping in person at trusted physical stores to ensure the authenticity of products.
– Use a credit card for safer transactions, as they offer stronger fraud protection.
– Avoid sharing sensitive information like your Social Security number or passwords.
– Report any scams you encounter to the appropriate authorities, such as filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
By following these tips and taking additional precautions, you can safeguard yourself against holiday shopping scams.