Black Friday 2022: shopping scams to watch out for

Black Friday comes the day after Thanksgiving, which this year falls on November 25th. It will be a day of big discounts and big cash flows. And cybercriminals, unfortunately, will try to steal some of them. CNET.

Photo: IStock

The scammers work all year round, but they step up their efforts during the holiday season to capitalize on the spirit of charity.

Fraud is rampant, with retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart running holiday promotions, and scammers setting up websites to trick you into spending money on items you'll never get. You may receive text messages or emails claiming that you are eligible for a refund on an item you never purchased, just so thieves can get your credit card information. You may even be tempted to donate to an abandoned puppy home charity that never existed.

On the subject: 12 shops, travel agencies and telecom operators offering discounts to people over 55

Fraud comes in all shapes and sizes, but there are always tags to help spot the scam.

Fake websites and rogue apps become "phishing"

In phishing, the goal is for hackers to get your personal information such as your credit card number, social security, or account password. Posing as a large retail corporation, scammers send out an official email or text message, usually with a link to a scam website that looks like the real site.

Researchers at security firm Avanan found that hackers were sending fake emails with notifications of Amazon orders. The email was like your run-of-the-mill order confirmation, except that the order was false and the fee was significant.

Naturally, if you think you are being charged a significant amount, you should contact Amazon. But in this case, if you use the link in the phishing email to contact you, you will be redirected to a fake Amazon web page with a fake phone number to dial. If you call, the scammers will not pick up the phone at first, but will soon call back and ask you to provide your card number, expiration date and CVV for "order cancellation". And that's how they got your information.

These types of attacks are common throughout the year, but expect a spike in messages from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, or other major retailers over the holidays.

If you receive an email asking you to update your payment method or request other personal information, please contact the company's support team to ensure the email is genuine before doing anything else.

According to the Federal Trade Commission and website StaySafeOnline.org, other ways to identify phishing emails include:

• The sender's email address looks almost correct, but contains extra characters or typos.
• There are typos or incorrect grammar either in the subject line or elsewhere in the email.
• They refer to you in general terms ("Mr", "Miss" or "Dear Customer") rather than by name.
• The message alerts you to take immediate action and asks you to click a link and enter personal details, especially billing information.
• Messages promise refunds, coupons, or other gifts.
• The company logo in the letter looks poor quality or just wrong.

Credit card skimming goes fully digital

You saw it in the movies. The hacker places the object on a card reader disguised as part of an ATM and then waits for people to swipe their cards. A day or a week later, the thief takes the object, known as a skimmer, and collects a mountain of stolen card information stored inside, which he can then use to make purchases, withdraw money, and more.

Instead of using physical hardware to steal payment card numbers, hackers can inject malicious code directly into a website to do the same thing as traditional skimming, but with online payment information instead.

Regarding e-skimming incidents, sometimes referred to as Magecart attacks after the name of the software used, Tim McKee, chief security strategist at Synopsis, a digital security company, warns: “There is no obvious way for the average person to tell if a website has been hacked and when. . The only potential tell-tale sign might be that the website itself doesn't look "right".

McKee offers several strategies you can use to protect yourself:

• Do not store your credit card information on retail sites.
• If possible, use a third-party payment method such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or PayPal.
• Turn on purchase alerts on all your credit cards.
• Disable international purchases on all credit cards.
• Make purchases only through your home network or cellular network, and not through public Wi-Fi, where your payment can be intercepted.

Avoid exchanging gifts "Secret Sister" is a pyramid scheme

Originating on Facebook, this online stranger-to-stranger gift exchange plays on the popular workplace practice of Secret Santa, a game in which each person in a group buys a gift for one randomly selected member of the group, with the giver not revealing their identity.

Instead, according to the Better Business Bureau, Secret Sister is a pyramid clad in festive attire. The "Secret Sister" trade invite promises you will receive around $360 worth of gifts after you purchase and send a $10 gift to someone else. The option includes an exchange of bottles of wine. And there's even a "Secret Santa Dog" where you give money to a "secret dog".

Unfortunately, bad math hasn't stopped this scam from resurfacing year after year. If you buy into this, you will probably lose $10 and get no gifts in return. You can also lose personal data because the scam involves sending your name, email address, and phone number to people you have never met in person.

The Better Business Bureau recommends ignoring any Secret Sister request - don't give out your personal details to strangers online. You can also report the invitation to Facebook or any other social network where you have been approached.

Your donations may be directed to a "fake charity"

During the holiday season, it's not uncommon for people to make donations to the community. In fact, non-profits usually see an uptick in activity in the fall. According to the Blackbod Institute, which creates fundraising apps, the last three months of the year account for 36% of all charitable giving during the year.

Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of this generosity.

They impersonate other successful charities. And unsurprisingly, it works: scammers come up with real-sounding charitable names, build trustworthy websites, run successful social media campaigns—and they're persistent.

Scammers usually call you on local phone numbers, giving you a false sense of security. However, spoofing the area code is incredibly easy. Then they will tell a story, and it will be a good one. It will touch the strings of your heart. And they might even claim that you've donated before and offer you another one, and that if you do, it will be tax-exempt. And it will all be a lie.

If you receive a call from a charity and feel some apprehension, Aarp и FTC suggest you do the following:

Do your research. Use CharityWatchto learn more about a particular charity and how trustworthy it is. Or use Google.

Pay close attention to the charity's name and website. Fake charities like to imitate other popular charities. If it seems too close in name to another organization, then it may be a scammer.

Keep track of your donations. Even if you accidentally donate to a scammer, you must make sure that the donation is not repeated.

Do not disclose all personal information. Of course, it's okay to provide information about your card, but don't do this with a social security number or bank account number.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

Do not donate in cash. If you're unsure about a charity's credibility, don't give away cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrencies.

For any charitable donations you make, you can also use the search tool tax-exempt organizations IRSto make sure the charity you are contributing to is legal and that your gift can be deducted from your tax return.

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