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| Black Friday Scam |
Black Friday, a global shopping event, attracts many South Africans to online shopping due to its significant deals and discounts. However, cyber security expert Candice Toprek warns against being rushed to avoid disappointment and potential loss of money.
Toprek warns that fake websites that look identical to known brands are employing sophisticated methods to take advantage of unsuspecting online shoppers. While digital payment methods, such as cards and e-wallets, are safer, they can also bring other risks. Cyber security experts are witnessing an increase in counterfeit e-commerce sites that pretend to be legitimate brands. Fortinet warns that significant events like Black Friday allow cyber criminals to flood inboxes with ' special offers' that don't exist, leading shoppers to fake websites where they disclose their bank details or personal information.
This year's Black Friday event is expected to generate about R26 billion in sales, up from R19 billion in 2022. Toprek warns that personal user account information contains valuable data highly valued on the underground market and can yield financial rewards. If a victim has been a victim of these scams, they are urged to use the South African Fraud Prevention Services' YIMA online platform to report the fraud.
Some common scams to watch out for include urgent requests for updated billing information, fake websites with deals on popular products, phishing emails, phoney package tracking notifications, instant messages with links to supposedly great deals, counterfeit charities, fake social media accounts, misleading reviews secured through "review exchange" clubs, unauthorised sellers, and empty or stolen gift cards.
Scammers may email shoppers claiming their billing information is incorrect and urgently needs to be updated, urging them to contact the retailer directly to ensure they receive legitimate information. They should also be suspicious of direct messages with links to supposedly great deals, as scammers often imitate URLs to retailers' websites to get shoppers to click links that can expose their devices to malware.
Fake charities often only accept gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency, while fake social media accounts can trick shoppers into offering their personal information or buying counterfeit goods. Shoppers should check for verified social media accounts with more significant followings before clicking on a profile.
Lastly, unauthorised sellers who may not correctly display, package, handle, or ship products during the weekend's sales can make it more difficult to make returns or exchanges. Gift cards are a popular item during the holiday season, and scammers may attempt to trick shoppers into purchasing empty or stolen ones.
