Black Friday scams 2022: What to look out for and how to tell if an offer is legitimate

Christmas shoppers are being warned to be on the alert for possible scams ahead of Black Friday on November 25.

According to data from Barclays Bank, the number of reported purchase frauds immediately following Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday rose 34 percent last year, with scammers losing an average of £1,072.

And research from the bank shows that almost nine in ten Britons rely on Black Friday this year to do (part of) their Christmas shopping.

Nearly half of Britons plan to shop online, making them more vulnerable to scammers.

Barclays data shows that the share of scams on tech platforms, including auction sites, social media and dating apps, has increased by 71 percent since the beginning of 2021.

Currently, more than three-quarters of all scams take place on these platforms, compared to less than half in early 2021.

With the average Briton expected to spend more than £200 on shopping this year during Black Friday, Barclays is urging shoppers to take extra care when purchasing online during the sales season.

Ross Martin, head of digital security at Barclays, says: ‘While Black Friday is a great way for Brits to save money in the run-up to the Christmas period, it’s important to remain vigilant when making purchases.

“This year more than ever, people will be looking for the best bargains, which could put them straight into the hands of scammers, who will make bogus offers to lure victims in.

“Remember to ignore any pressure put on you, and if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

The bank’s findings also showed that many shoppers are changing their normal shopping behavior on Black Friday.

About a third feel pressured to make a purchase as soon as possible to make sure they get the best deal.

One in five said they were more likely to find out about a ‘too good to be true’ deal, and a further 17 percent admitted to shopping on sites they’d never heard of if they saw particularly good deals or had offers.

Barclays is urging buyers to follow four steps this Black Friday.

First, do your due diligence by researching and reading reviews to verify that a website and the seller are genuine.

Second, if possible, view the item in person first to make sure it exists, especially if it’s a major purchase like a smartphone or even a car.

Third, always talk to someone you trust for a second opinion, be it a friend, family member or your bank.

Finally, many scams offer huge discounts that you wouldn’t normally find at stores you would normally trust. To remind, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Beware of the British Airways Black Friday scam

Those looking for a bargain vacation want to be aware of one specific scam, according to the frequent flyer and loyalty points website Go to points.

The website warns that a number of its readers have received WhatsApp messages about an alleged British Airways Black Friday giveaway in their WhatsApp feeds, forwarded to them by unsuspecting friends.

Fake: An image of the scam message shared by Head for Points

BA has confirmed to Head for Points that it is indeed a scam.

The message is likely being forwarded by one of your contacts, as the scammers tell “winners” to forward the offer to 20 friends to validate their prize.

Head for Points warns: ‘There are elements that seem genuine, although there are problems with the English – ‘2’ instead of ‘two’, the awkward ‘Do you know British Airways?’ question, the weird ‘Greetings’ salutation – would be a flag to most.

‘What IS realistic is the price. Offer 5,000 first class flights to Sydney and no one will believe you. Offer 5,000 economy flights to Europe during the quiet winter period and that sounds perfectly reasonable.’

Needless to say, the contest is a fake free flight promotion designed to collect personal and financial data.

The phishing attack is the first of what is expected to be a spate of cyber-attacks targeting Britons looking to capitalize on the biggest sales event of the year.

Bob Brinklow, UK country manager at cybersecurity firm NordVPN, said: “With less than two weeks to go until the day itself, the BA Golden Ticket scam has broken through the clouds to become the first high-profile Black Friday scam of the year.

Collect data: The BA scam asks users to complete an online quiz to get their information

“This scam – offering the chance to win free airline tickets for completing an online quiz – is an excellent example of how criminal gangs will try to exploit the cost of living crisis by dangling irresistible offers in front of from tough Britons.

“It’s also about user familiarity, not just with BA as a brand, but with the pop-up quizzes that have become a part of many web pages, especially news websites.

As a result, people browsing the web don’t think twice before clicking the attached link and then adding some personal – and valuable – details as part of their ‘contest entry’.

Consumers can expect a steady stream of these Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday scams over the coming weeks.

It’s important to treat any pop-up deal or offer with caution and not click on any links unless you know the address they lead you to is verified.

‘If you are on an unfamiliar web page, do not enter any personal information unless you know that you are dealing with a secure site.

“Remember, even on Black Friday, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”