Don’t Let Scammers Steal Your Black Friday Savings

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are known for deep discounts and holiday deals, but they also mark one of the busiest times of year for fraudsters. Long before shoppers begin filling online carts, scammers are already preparing fake websites, deceptive advertisements and phishing campaigns designed to steal personal and financial information.

As holiday promotions start appearing in inboxes, text messages and social media feeds, it’s important to know how to spot warning signs before the shopping rush begins. Taking a few simple precautions now can help protect your accounts, your identity and your hard-earned savings throughout the holiday season.

Black Friday Deals That Aren’t Really Deals

Scammers know consumers are actively looking for bargains during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. To take advantage of that excitement, they often create fake online stores or place advertisements promoting popular products at unrealistically low prices.

These fraudulent websites can look surprisingly professional, featuring product photos, customer reviews and familiar branding. In many cases, shoppers pay for items that never arrive or receive counterfeit products instead of what was advertised. More concerning, entering payment information on a fraudulent website may give criminals access to credit card details and other sensitive information.

Before making a purchase, take time to verify the retailer. Visit the company’s website directly instead of following links from social media ads or unsolicited emails. If a deal seems dramatically lower than prices offered by other retailers, it may be worth investigating further before completing the purchase.

Watch Out for Fake Shipping Notifications

As holiday shopping ramps up, so do package delivery scams. Fraudsters often send emails or text messages claiming there is an issue with a shipment, a missed delivery or an address verification request.

These messages are designed to create urgency and encourage recipients to click a link without thinking twice. Once clicked, victims may be directed to a fake website that requests personal information, login credentials or payment details.

Because many consumers expect package updates during the holidays, these scams can be especially convincing. Rather than clicking links in unexpected messages, visit the retailer’s website or shipping carrier’s official tracking page directly to verify the status of any order.

Protect Your Accounts Before the Holiday Rush

Account security plays an important role in preventing fraud during the holiday season. Shopping accounts, email accounts and online banking profiles often contain valuable personal information that criminals can use to commit fraud.

Using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. It is also a good time to review account settings, update passwords and ensure contact information is current before the busiest shopping days arrive.

Regularly monitoring your bank and credit card transactions can help you identify suspicious activity quickly. The sooner unauthorized transactions are reported, the sooner action can be taken to help protect your accounts.

Shop With Confidence This Holiday Season

Black Friday and Cyber Monday should be opportunities to save money, not lose it. By understanding how holiday scams work and taking proactive steps before the shopping season reaches its peak, consumers can reduce their risk and enjoy a safer shopping experience.

For additional resources on recognizing scams, protecting your financial information and responding to fraud concerns, visit Republic Bank of Chicago’s Fraud Prevention page to learn more about staying secure throughout the year.