Written by
Reviewed by William Cooper
Every year, Black Friday generates an enormous amount of traffic from shoppers who are eager to take advantage of exclusive offers. But in their haste to save money, many customers fail to recognise that Black Friday also presents an exciting opportunity for cybercriminals.
Fraud incidents rise 22% on Black Friday alone, with the average shopper losing £970. That’s why, though it’s always satisfying to secure a good offer, you should take some precautions before snagging that Black Friday deal online.
Trust your credit card
Unlike debit cards, credit cards have measures that are designed to safeguard you while you shop. Every purchase you make on your credit card is protected, meaning that if your item never arrives you can claim back the cost through your card provider. Using your credit card also means that in the event your credit card bank details are stolen, your main bank account will remain secure.
Layers of protection
You want to make it as difficult as possible for cybercriminals to access your bank account, so the more layers of protection there are between them and your account, the better.
Two-step verification, whereby a code is sent to your email or phone before logging in, adds an extra layer of difficulty against cybercriminals trying to breach your account.
Before you shop, make sure you have a different password for each of your bank accounts (if you have multiple). While many people use the same password for all their accounts, this is not considered best practice, as a cybercriminal who has successfully breached one of your bank accounts is likely to want to continue their success by moving onto another account.
Think before you click
If you’ve purchased a few items on Black Friday, you’ll have received more than a few order confirmation emails.
Cybercriminals know this and will use it to their advantage by targeting you with fraudulent phishing emails, posing as legitimate retail websites. Once you click into the email, you may be redirected to a realistic spoof website before being prompted to enter your bank details. Or, clicking the email link may begin to download malware onto your phone or computer, which can then give cybercriminals access to your sensitive information.
That’s why it’s essential to be mindful about what you click on, even if you are expecting order confirmation emails or similar.
Only purchase from trusted websites
While it’s true that you should only make purchases from websites you trust, scammers have become skilled at creating fake websites that look legitimate and are often identical to the copied source.
To make sure the website you’re planning to purchase from is legitimate, check that its web address begins with ‘https//:’ which indicates that a website is encrypted (and therefore secure).
If you want to purchase an item or service from a lesser-known company online, make sure you’ve vouched for its legitimacy on a trusted consumer review site like Trustpilot or Feefo, which will helpfully show you an average customer rating of the site.
What if I’ve already been scammed?
Losing money – especially a large sum – can be a highly emotional affair, but it’s important to take a moment to regroup and approach the situation with a level head. This helpful article from the Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to inform you on your next steps, depending on the method in which you were potentially scammed.
It’s also worth checking the policy terms of your home insurance, as it may cover you for fraud you encounter when shopping online.
Stay cyber-safe with Stanhope
Even when we’re being careful, sometimes accidents happen – after all, anyone can be the victim of a scam.
But with Stanhope, getting caught in the path of an opportunist doesn’t have to ruin your year, or even your week. Rebound and recover as soon as possible with our high-value home insurance which can include identity theft and cyber cover up to £100,000. Simply contact us today for a free quote.
Get a quote now
Excellent customer service and after care. Professional, friendly and human people to speak to Great experience.
5 Star Review ReviewsIO
Sources
https://home.barclays/news/2023/10/barclays-warns-22-per-cent-surge-black-friday-scams/