Black Friday is a chance to snag great deals, but occasionally, those tempting offers are not as fantastic as they seem. Amid the excitement, don’t get so carried away that caution flies out the window. Being too eager to buy could end up costing you more than you bargained for.
Scammers are experts at seizing every chance to make a fast profit, using sophisticated techniques that can fool even the most cautious shoppers in the frenzy of a shopping spree. Protect yourself from fraud – especially when you shop online.
Watch out for fake websites
Opportunists are setting up fake websites that copy famous, reliable ones. They imitate the brand’s look and products, promoting sales that appear to be fantastic deals. To increase the pressure to buy without examining the site more closely, they might use urgency tactics like a notice that says, ‘sale ends in 1 hour’.
In the rush to grab the deal, you might buy the item, enter your payment details and pay at checkout. The scammers then have your money, but what’s worse is that they also have all the banking information that you entered on their fake page. They can use this info to make fraudulent transactions from your accounts, or to steal your identity. So, to avoid being taken for a ride, the first rule is to make sure you’re shopping at the online store you think you’re shopping at.
How to spot a fake website
Signs to help you spot a fake website:
Discrepancies in URL Watch out for subtle misspellings or variations in the website address. Scammers often use these tricks to create URLs that look like the real deal.
Misspellings or variations Pay attention to any misspelt words or content variations on the website. These can be red flags signalling an attempt to mimic a trusted site. Sites using the Cyrillic alphabet can create convincingly fake addresses – this webpage explains how to spot the frauds.
Unusual domain endings Be wary of websites with uncommon or suspicious domain endings. Legitimate businesses usually stick to well-known standard domain extensions. Be wary of domains ending in .xyz, .info, .online, or similar unconventional choices. Legitimate businesses usually prefer more reliable, familiar extensions like .com, .co.za, or country-specific variations.
Poor website design Be sceptical of poorly designed websites. Scammers might not bother creating a professional-looking platform.
Low-quality graphics Check the quality of images and graphics on the site. Fake websites often use low-resolution or stolen images, indicating a lack of authenticity.
Inconsistencies in layout Look for irregularities in the layout, like mismatched fonts or uneven spacing. These reveal a lack of attention to detail, a common trait in fraudulent sites.
Page contact details Most fraudulent sites omit or have minimal contact details. Some reputable sites also have limited contact options, but they should at least provide external links to social-media pages.
In cases where none of these signs are apparent, the safest approach is to call the company and confirm their official website details directly. Alternatively, you can use browsers like Google or DuckDuckGo, which typically display a company’s phone number, website and locations at the top of the screen. It’s also a good idea to type a web address into your browser bar, rather than clicking on links.
