Black Friday: 10 tips for safer shopping

November 23, 2023

Black Friday, celebrated this year on Friday, November 24th, is an American tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. It offers consumers numerous discounts and promotions.

Nowadays, many of these purchases are made online, and cybercriminals take advantage of the frenzy for exceptional deals to exploit this phenomenon for malicious purposes.

Therefore, it is essential to take precautions to prevent fraud and ensure a secure shopping experience. Here are some recommendations and guidelines for security practices.

Be wary of overly good deals

Online shopping and internet browsing require common sense. Cybercriminals will lure users with incredible Black Friday offers, gifts and additional discounts. This is to get them to make purchases or enter their data.

If you come across a promotion that seems too good to be true, there's likely a chance it's potential fraud.

Stay informed about common fraud tactics

It's essential to keep informed about the most commonly used tactics by cybercriminals, such as malicious emails or phishing, vishing, fake websites, fraudulent ads, social engineering, or identity theft. Information is readily available to everyone, and it's crucial to be aware and stay updated as a protective measure.

Be careful with the emails and websites you visit

To avoid falling victim to phishing or having cybercriminals steal your data, it's essential to always verify the authenticity of emails by checking both the sender's address and legitimacy.

Additionally, verify websites before clicking on links. During these days, be especially cautious about typosquatting, where malicious websites may appear legitimate. It's recommended to enter the URL directly or use the official mobile app of the platform or retailer.

Ensure you are on a secure website

When shopping online, it's vital to check if the website has an SSL/TLS certificate. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar and ensure that the site's URL begins with "https://". This indicates a secure connection and that the website has the right to use the domain name.

This certificate protects data during transactions and encrypts information, including credit card numbers.

However, it's worth noting that many phishing pages also have security certificates, so always verify and browse trusted websites.

Use e-cash or prepaid cards

In the event of falling victim to fraud or making a purchase on a malicious website, it's essential to use cards not linked to your entire bank account.

This way, in case of fraud, the only money at risk will be the amount allocated for that specific online purchase. This reduces the damage and limits the loss.

Monitor and review your bank accounts

Regularly checking your bank account statements and card transactions used for online shopping is critical. This helps identify suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions. If you detect anything unusual, report it immediately to your financial institution and consider blocking the card.

Use strong and distinct passwords, and enable two-factor authentication

It's always essential to use strong and unique passwords for different online accounts. Combine letters, numbers, and symbols to enhance security. Additionally, whenever possible, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of protection. This makes it harder for cybercriminals to access your accounts if they compromise your login credentials.

Avoid shopping on public or open WiFi networks

When connecting to open WiFi networks, information is often not encrypted, making these networks susceptible to exploitation by cybercriminals who can intercept the data you enter.

Whenever possible, avoid making purchases, logging in, or accessing sensitive information like email or banking while connected to public or open WiFi networks. If in doubt, use your mobile data connection.

Keep your devices updated and protected

To prevent your devices from being vulnerable to vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit, ensure that your devices have the latest security updates. Additionally, have antivirus software installed to protect your devices and maintain recent data backups.

Check seller and store reviews

When chasing a deal, you may end up on less-known platforms or with unfamiliar sellers. In such cases, it's essential to look for reviews and ratings from other customers on various sources like Google, Trustpilot, or social media.

This helps gauge the seller's credibility and trustworthiness. However, be aware that fake reviews also exist, so exercise caution and (again) use common sense.

✅ Adopting these proactive measures significantly reduces the risk of falling victim to fraud during Black Friday and any other online transaction.

✅ It's essential to stay vigilant, shop securely, and hunt for deals without compromising your personal data and bank accounts.

Image from Freepik.