Black Friday Safety: How to Stay Safe From Cybercrime During Black Friday

The yearly phenomenon of Black Friday attracts buyers from all over the globe. The massive discounts are something you don't want to miss, especially if you've been eyeing a particular item all year.

Back then, Black Friday sales exclusively occurred in-store. While lines and crowds still exist in physical shops today, people can now join in the hype online. In fact, online shoppers spent around USD$10.8 billion during the 2024 Black Friday sale.

Despite the ease of online shopping, it also comes with risks. Malicious actors take advantage of this opportunity to scam as many people as possible, luring them into glittering traps. So, it's your responsibility to protect yourself from these dangers. Here's how you can promote Black Friday safety while shopping online.

Don't Fall for 'Official-Looking' Deals and Countdowns

As you approach Black Friday, expect to see numerous online deals available everywhere. You'll encounter official ones and some that look eerily official. Scammers can design ads with known company logos and limited-time banners.

They'll even put in a 'Last two items left!' to push buyers into clicking fast. It's pressuring to avoid being left behind, especially during time-locked discounts. Miss a few minutes of it and you could end up with nothing, or at least just the dregs.

To avoid these traps, follow these practices:

• Go directly to the store's official website instead of clicking ads.
• Compare the discounts you see. If the prices seem suspiciously low, check if the same offer is available on the store's official website.
• Ignore those countdown timers. Legitimate companies won't pressure you into buying their products.
  

The official websites of your favourite brands are also most likely to have information on Black Friday. They may even include their own timer and a subscription option to receive updates. For example, Ecosa has FAQs regarding their online sales during Black Friday, as well as an email subscription to help you prepare for the big day.

Use Disposable Payment Methods for Big Purchases

You may rely heavily on your credit card or debit card for bigger, more expensive purchases. While it's generally safe to do this, it's safer to use virtual credit cards or temporary payment numbers. These methods offer better protection and enhanced Black Friday safety against cybercrime.

Fortunately, most banks and digital wallets already offer such features. Well-known payment services like PayPal and Apple Pay can hide your real card number behind encryption. It only takes a few minutes to set up, allowing you to add a protective layer when holiday shopping from unfamiliar stores.

If you're interested in buying from a small online shop this Black Friday season, it helps to use disposable yet secure payment methods. They reduce your exposure to scams and limit how much of your real information goes online.

Track Your Data Trails After Checking Out

A mistake many shoppers make is thinking they're in the clear after confirming their purchases. Data theft can still occur even after you've checked out. Many websites collect details such as location, contact information and browsing habits, and sell or leak them to the dark web. During Black Friday, hackers will use several sneaky ways to compromise online privacy and track multiple buyers through these data trails.

You can protect yourself from these attacks by using browsers with tracker-blocking features or extensions. Examples include uBlock Origin. Another option is to create a separate email address for shopping, so spam and phishing emails don't clutter your primary inbox.

After completing each purchase, make sure that you clear your cached data and cookies to prevent targeted scams. Taking the time to clean up your tracks is an important part of Black Friday safety that helps keep your personal details harder to exploit.

Beware of Influencer and Affiliate Scams

These days, people often turn to social media influencers for ideas on what to buy for Black Friday. But not every influencer is genuine, since some turn out to be scammers in disguise. They'll provide exclusive discounted gift cards or other counterfeit offers that lead you to phishing attempts or even fake stores.

To protect yourself from these instances, only check links that come from verified accounts or established blogs. You can also check the brand's official pages to see if they mention the same promo that these influencers are sharing. Meanwhile, influencers with real partnerships don't ask followers for payment details directly or through private messages.

Research suggests to companies a two-stage affiliate listening protocol to monitor affiliate activity and detect potential fraud early. This way, brands can help protect their customers from scams.

Protect Yourself From Public Wi-Fi and Shared Devices

The best thing about shopping these days is that you can do it anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. However, public Wi-Fi networks expose you to several risks, which include packet sniffing, man-in-the-middle attacks and side jacking.

But sometimes, you can't help but connect to public Wi-Fi when you're not at home or don't have a personal network. Here are some practical ways to shop safely:

• Use a VPN when browsing or making payments.
• Avoid saving passwords or card information on public or shared computers.
• Turn off Bluetooth and file sharing when not needed.

If you need to make an urgent purchase, consider switching to mobile data. It's automatically encrypted and far safer than open Wi-Fi networks.

Wrapping Up

Online holiday shopping can be worthwhile when you prioritise your safety. There are many instances of identity theft and spoofed websites that leave buyers spending thousands without the expected payoff.

Protect yourself from online scams with these Black Friday safety methods. Consider practising these habits all the way to Cyber Monday and beyond. Online shopping should be effortless, allowing you to score exciting deals from the comfort of your own home.

References
1. "Most Black Friday shoppers bagged their deals online this year, with record spending," Source: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/01/g-s1-36310/black-friday-cyber-monday-record-spending
2. "All that glitters is not real affiliation: How to handle affiliate marketing programs in the era of falsity," Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007681322000775
3. "Topic: Risks of using public Wi-Fi," Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370066830_Topic_Risks_of_using_public_Wi-Fi