Black Friday lands on 27 November this year, and your inbox already knows it. Over the next few weeks you’ll get a flood of “70% off” emails, SMSes and WhatsApp messages. Most of them are genuine. Some of them are Black Friday scams, built to look exactly like the real thing and timed for the moment you’re most likely to click without thinking. Here’s how to spot them, protect your identity and still bag the deals you’ve been waiting for.
Why Black Friday is a scammer’s favourite day
Think about what Black Friday looks like from a scammer’s side. Millions of people are shopping at once, often from stores they’ve never used before. Everyone is expecting order confirmations and delivery updates. And every deal comes with a countdown timer telling you to hurry. Scammers don’t need to be clever on a day like this. They just need you to be rushed.
The Black Friday scams to watch for
Fake online stores. These copy the look of well-known brands, offer prices that seem too good to be true and vanish once the money’s in. Check the web address carefully for misspellings or odd endings and search the store’s name with the word “reviews” before you buy.
Phishing messages. Phishing is when someone pretends to be a company you trust so that you’ll click a link and type in your details. These arrive by email, SMS and more and more as WhatsApp scams. Watch for messages like “your payment failed” or “claim your voucher.” If you’re unsure, don’t use the link. Open the store’s website or app yourself and check from there.
Fake delivery notices. You’re probably expecting a parcel, so a fake courier SMS saying a small fee is needed to release it feels believable. Always track deliveries using the tracking number from the store’s own confirmation, not a link in an SMS.
QR code scams. A QR code is just a link in disguise, so it can lead to a fake payment page as easily as a dodgy SMS can. If a QR code on a flyer or in a message promises a voucher or a deal, type the store’s web address in yourself instead.
Too-good social media ads. Ads for designer goods or the latest phones at a fraction of the price often lead straight to fake stores.
Protect your identity, not just your wallet
Identity theft is when someone uses your personal details, like your ID number, address or banking information, to pretend to be you. That can mean new accounts, loans or purchases in your name and it can take months to untangle.
A few simple habits go a long way. A normal online purchase shouldn’t need your ID number, so treat that as a red flag. Never share a one-time PIN (OTP) with anyone. Your bank will never ask for it, so anyone who does is the scammer. And pay by card rather than EFT when you’re trying a new store, because your bank can help you dispute a card payment, while money sent by EFT is usually much harder to get back.
Get your devices ready before you shop
Before the sales start, spend ten minutes on the basics. Update your phone, laptop and browser, because updates fix security holes that scammers look for. Use a different, strong password for each shopping site, and let a password manager remember them for you. Turn on two-factor authentication, which adds a second check, like a code sent to your phone, so a stolen password on its own isn’t enough to get in.
Skip shopping on public Wi-Fi at the mall or coffee shop and use your mobile data instead. And remember that the little padlock next to a web address only means your connection is private. It doesn’t mean the shop is honest.
Bought something new? A new laptop setup is the best moment to get security right, before your files and passwords move across. The same goes for a smart TV setup: change the default password, install the updates and only add apps from the official store. And if that new TV keeps buffering in the bedroom, the TV usually isn’t the problem. It’s a Wi-Fi coverage gap and a mesh Wi-Fi system can carry the signal to every room.
If that list feels like a lot, our home IT support team can sit down with you and set it all up.
What to do if you think you’ve been caught
These scams are designed to fool smart, careful people, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed.
Act quickly instead.
Phone your bank on the number on the back of your card and ask them to block it.
Change your passwords, starting with your email.
If you shared your ID number, you can apply for protective registration with the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS), which warns lenders that someone may try to use your identity.
Report the fraud to SAPS as well.
If you clicked a link and your laptop has been acting strangely since, have it checked. Our nerds can handle virus removal, and if files have gone missing, talk to us about data recovery before you try anything yourself.
Shop smart this Black Friday!
