It’s November already, and as the excitement for Black Friday and the shopping season builds, scammers are busy preparing a range of tricks to exploit eager shoppers. From social media ads to spoofed websites, it’s crucial to stay vigilant. Keep reading to check for the top 4 Black Friday scams you should watch out for, along with essential safety tips to protect yourself.

1. Scam Ads on Social Media: The North Face
2. Spoofed Websites: The North Face
3. Gift Card Scams: Sam’s Club
4. Delivery Scams: USPS and Customs

#1 Scam Ads on Social Media: The North Face

Have you ever run into tempting ads featuring irresistible offers when browsing Facebook? During a shopping event like Black Friday, social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram become hotbeds for fraudulent ads. Below is an example:

Posing as The North Face, scammers have created fake ads for their supposed Black Friday deals — with up to 80% off! The fake fan page is named “The North Face Online”: watch out! If you take the bait, the ad will lead you to scam websites that impersonate the genuine The North Face website.

Safety Tip: Always verify the legitimacy of a retailer before clicking on an ad. Does the ad account belong to the legitimate vender? Is the URL linked a genuine one? Make sure you know.

#2 Spoofed Websites: The North Face

Spoofed websites are a common trap during the Black Friday frenzy. Such copycat websites often mimic popular brands and can appear almost identical to the original. For example, if you take a closer look at the ad above, you will notice that the link it’s taking you to is northfacecoat[.]shop — NOT the legitimate one! (It should be thenorthface.com.)

Sample fake The North Face web addresses:

• Northfacedeals[.]shop
• Northfacecoat[.]shop

These sites, with their unbelievable discounts, appear too good to be true — because they are. Purchasing from these deceptive sites is highly risky. You may never receive your order but will lose your money, along with personal and financial information, such as your email address and credit card number. Once scammers have your details, they can potentially sell them to cybercriminals on the dark web or use them for further fraudulent activities. Watch out!

Safety Tip: Check if the website is legitimate one. Search directly on the Internet to look for the authentic one.

Common Red Flags of a Scam Website

Besides checking the web address, here’s some common red flags of a scammy online shop to look out for:

• Too-Good-to-Be-True deals
• Poor design, typos, and insecure payment methods.
• Lack of or Suspicious Contact Info
• Lack of secure Payment options like credit cards.
• Unclear Return or Shipping

#3 Gift Card Scams: Sam’s Club

Besides fake websites, scammers also often send out phishing emails to trick people. One of the common hooks they use during Black Friday is gift cards. Imposing trusted brands, scammers will send you an email and tell you that you’ve won a free gift card. Below is an example of a fake Sam’s Club gift card email:

If you fall for the scam and click on the button, it will take you to malicious websites designed to harvest your personal information. Again, these credentials could end up in cybercriminals’ hands and be used for other fraudulent activities.

Safety Tip: Check the sender’s email address. Does it belong to the brand/organization it claimed to be from? Also, verify any such promotions directly through the official website or customer service.

#4 Delivery Scams: USPS and Customs

Waiting for packages to be delivered is a thrilling part of online shopping. That’s why scammers are creating fake delivery notifications to exploit your excitement and concern! Claiming to be from the customs, USPS, or another delivery service, scammers will state that there’s a problem with your order. These messages are designed to give you a sense of worry and prompt you to click on the attached link to receive your package:

This link likely directs to a fake website intended to harvest your personal information. Sounds familiar, right?

Safety Tip: Never click on links from unsolicited sources. Contact the delivery service directly using a verified number or website instead.

Stay Safe this Black Friday Shopping Season

When shopping online, keep these key points in mind to protect yourself from scams:

• Check the URL: Ensure the web address matches the legitimate retailer’s URL exactly. Be skeptical of URLs with extra words or characters.
• Secure Connection: Look for “https://” in the URL, and a padlock icon, indicating a secure connection.
• Research the Site: Search the internet for reviews or scam reports related to the website.
• Beware of Big Discounts: Extremely low prices are a red flag for scam sites.
• Use Secure Payment Options: Pay with credit cards or services like PayPal for added protection.

Protect Yourself Against Scams with ScamCheck

With the sheer number of scams and scammers that are out there, staying one step ahead is more crucial than ever. Introducing the newly updated Trend Micro ScamCheck! Available for both Android and iOS, ScamCheck offers comprehensive protection from scam websites, scam and spam text messages, deepfakes, and more:

• SMS Filter & Call Block: Say goodbye to unwanted spam and scam calls and messages. Minimize daily disruptions and reinforce your defenses against phishing.
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• Deepfake Scan: Detect deepfakes in real-time during video calls, alerting you if anyone is using AI face-swapping technology to alter their appearance.
• Web Guard: Surf the web safely, protected from malicious websites and annoying ads.

To download Trend Micro ScamCheck or to learn more, click the button below.

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