{"id":25246,"date":"2021-10-13T14:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T22:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=25246"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:22:03","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:22:03","slug":"how-to-spot-a-black-friday-or-cyber-monday-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/how-to-spot-a-black-friday-or-cyber-monday-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Spot a Black Friday or Cyber Monday Scam Before Falling Victim"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s no doubt that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are big business for retailers.  The number of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers in the U.S. now exceeds 100 million<\/a> and we spent $9 billion in 2020<\/a>.  But for all the big deals and huge discounts, it\u2019s a bonanza for scammers too.  They prey on the frenetic urgency and excitement around shopping season.  Here\u2019s how to step back, analyze their offer with a rational head, and protect yourself against the most common Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Most Common BFCM Scams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Speed is of the essence around Thanksgiving shopping season, so most Black Friday scams do not need to be particularly sophisticated.  Instead, they simply need to apply enough pressure and urgency to persuade victims to snatch up a deal and part with their cash before any skepticism kicks in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fake Online Stores<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fake or spoof online stores that take orders (and payments) for products with no intention of delivering them.  The link to these stores usually comes from an unsolicited email or text with an offer that seems (and is) too good to be true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phishing Attacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Phishing attacks by email or text that take advantage of a busier seasonal inbox.  The goal is to entice you to click on a link before really checking the credentials.  Poof!  Your personally identifiable information (PII) is compromised and the scammer creates a false identity from your details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fake Charity Donations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shopping season for some is also goodwill season for others.  Scammers will exploit this vulnerability with phone calls, texts, emails and even social media posts<\/a> requesting donations for charities that don\u2019t exist.  Avoid this scam by using a service such as Charity Navigator<\/a> as the portal for your charity donations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fake Delivery Scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fraudsters know that you\u2019re expecting packages over the holiday season.  They will send you a text that appears to be from USPS or FedEx, for example, asking you to click on a link to confirm account details or settle excess delivery charges.  It\u2019s another phishing scam, however.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Avoid Them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A failsafe tactic over Black Friday weekend is to slow down, make decisions at your own pace rather than succumb to the false urgency of the retailer, and check credentials thoroughly for any offer that looks suspiciously generous.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some telltale signs: <\/p>\n\n\n\n