Five tips to avoid Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams - Cyber and Fraud Centre

The frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday generates billions in sales each year, but the frenzy also attracts cyber criminals. Whether you are running a business looking for good deals, or an individual searching for bargains, scams are rife. Below are five essential tips to help protect yourself and your organisation this Black Friday season.

1. Stick to trusted retailers

It pays dividends to shop with recognised brands or retailers you trust. Look for secure website indicators like HTTPS at the start of a URL and also a padlock in the browser bar. Make sure you verify the legitimacy of suppliers, wholesalers or partners offering ‘Exclusive Black Friday Deals’. Fraudsters often impersonate reputable companies to trick businesses and bulk purchases.

Tip – Don’t follow unsolicited links, navigate directly to known websites.

2. Watch out for suspicious links

Phishing scams are rampant during sales events. Be highly cautious of unsolicited emails, texts or pop-ups promising incredible deals. Employees can often be targeted with phishing emails disguised as promotions, invoices or supplier updates. One click could compromise your whole network.

Tip – train employees and family members to recognise phishing attempts and verify suspicious links before clicking.

3. Use secure payment methods

Credit cards and trusted platforms like PayPal offer fraud protection for individuals. Avoid bank transfers or unfamiliar payment methods if in doubt. For organisations, use secure payment systems when purchasing and don’t bypass company-approved methods for convenience.

Tip – regularly audit your payment systems to identify vulnerabilities and focus on areas to improve.

4. Update software and secure systems

Ensure your devices are running the latest security updates for your browser, operating system and antivirus software. Cyber criminals often exploit outdated systems. Retailers should patch any vulnerabilities and update point-of-sale (POS) systems and payment gateways ahead of busy shopping periods.

Tip – Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to strengthen defences.

5. Monitor financial transactions closely

Check bank and credit card statements regularly to spot unauthorised transactions early. By monitoring your accounts, you should be able to see any unusual activity, and set alerts for high-value or suspicious transactions. Fraudulent charges can quickly spiral if unnoticed during high-volume sales periods.

Tip – Empower your finance team to review transactions daily during the run up to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other key financial periods.

Summary

There are many ways that cyber criminals and fraudsters will try and take advantage of your organisation and your team members. Remember to:

Educate staff – run regular training sessions on identifying scams, phishing emails and social engineering tactics.
Verify partners/ suppliers – be wary of ‘too good to be true’ deals.
Bolster your cyber security – review firewalls, endpoint protection, and staff access controls to ensure your network is safe.

If you are concerned about your cyber position and would like an overview of your organisation’s cyber posture, get in touch with our team about a Cyber MOT. We are here to help.

26.11.24

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