Black Friday Scams Can Ruin Your Holidays

The holiday shopping season —and Black Friday scams along with it —are in full gear in the U.S. as soon as Halloween ends. And it won’t let up until Cyber Monday, either. This article will cover the scams we all need to watch out for, including Black Friday scams that affect travelers. After all, Thanksgiving is perhaps the busiest travel time across the country, with everyone heading to family and friend get-togethers from coast to coast. That also makes it one of the busiest seasons for Black Friday scammers.  They tap into that urgency and demand with fake sales and offers of their own to take advantage of you. The millions of people planning to travel will be searching for the best deals. Or they’ll simply be hoping to book a flight that gets them to their destination on time. Flights and available lodging could fill up fast, so travelers will go online and click on links, hoping not to be left behind. The important thing to keep in mind: it’s not the different scams you need to worry about during Black Friday season; it’s also the different methods that scammers use to engage you. Here’s how they do that. What to watch out for when it comes to travel-related Black Friday scams. Of course, travel is just one segment of Black Friday fraud. We covered them in the infographic in this article. Here’s what else scammers are up to during November, as it relates to Black Friday: Don’t let the excitement of Black Friday cause you to let your guard down. It’s not entirely your fault if you find yourself getting caught up in the excitement. These days, as soon as Halloween ends, advertisers—and scammers—are announcing Black Friday deals. That’s not how it used to be. In the past, Black Friday was officially the day after Thanksgiving. Retail stores opened early and closed late, and lured shoppers in with amazing deals on “must-have” products. Shoppers would line up outside of stores, waiting for doors to open at midnight. Eventually, many Black Friday deals went online, and retailers began promoting them weeks earlier. That’s where we are now. As soon as Halloween ends, advertisers (and scammers) are promoting Black Friday deals. That’s not how it used to be. Nearly all cybersecurity experts encourage consumers to become more aware of scams and learn to spot their “red flags,” the clues that give away their schemes. We have two special articles that can help. One explains the red flags of a scam. The other suggests new habits and rules to consider that help lower your risk of becoming a victim. The key to avoiding a scam is to do all you can to prevent becoming a victim. You can learn more about scams and how to avoid them at the WhatIsMyIPAddress.com Learning Center.