Security Tips: Avoid Black Friday & Holiday Shopping Scams 2024
As the holiday season kicks off, we remind readers of common online shopping scams that tend to spike around Black Friday (late November). Building on patterns seen in 2023 and 2024, the article describes scenarios like fake retail sites offering too-good-to-be-true deals, phishing emails masquerading as delivery failure notices, and malicious mobile shopping apps. We then provide tips to shop safely: stick to known e-commerce platforms, verify URLs (that amazon.com isn’t a lookalike domain), use virtual credit card numbers or payment services, and beware of unsolicited coupon links. We reference an FBI alert from early November 2024 warning consumers to be vigilant as online fraud increases during the holidays. By following these guidelines, readers can enjoy the convenience of online shopping without gifting scammers any opportunities.