Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, offering shoppers the chance to get great deals both in stores and online. The excitement of finding bargains attracts millions of consumers, but it’s also a magnet for fraudsters. This article discusses the top recent scams and how to avoid them. It will equip you to easily identify Black Friday scams and safety measures to prevent unwanted expenses during your holiday shopping. Key Insights: Nearly 34 million Americans fall victim to Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams. According to the PissedConsumer Survey, 57.3% of respondents think Black Friday is no longer relevant. Common Black Friday scams involve fraudulent promotions, such as fake emails from major retailers offering gift cards or prizes. What Are the Most Common Black Friday Scams? The most common Black Friday scams involve fake emails, messages, and social media ads offering false deals or delivery updates. Some retailers also inflate prices or sell poor-quality and undelivered products, while gift card scams trick shoppers into sharing card details with the fraudsters. Phishing emails with coupons and vouchers Email scams are one of the most popular ways fraudsters steal your money or personal information, so it’s crucial to be aware of potential traps. If you have received an email that claims to include heavily discounted coupons, always be cautious. Even better, it is strongly advised not to open it at all. After all, they often end up in your spam folder for a reason. These fake coupons can look convincing, but there’s usually a sign that something is wrong, like a strange URL that doesn’t match the official retailer’s website. But if you watch closely, you will notice an odd XYZ URL that is definitely not associated with the Target company. Malware can also be embedded in images within the email, so it’s essential to have up-to-date antivirus software. As a precaution, adjust your email settings so images don’t download automatically. If you do open such an email, resist clicking on any links, no matter how tempting the offer may seem. Fake delivery notifications This common Black Friday scam tricks consumers into thinking a package can’t be delivered. Scammers may pose as UPS, FedEx, or USPS, asking you to verify a tracking number or click a link to rearrange delivery. If you're not expecting a package, this is a clear red flag. You also should know that shipping companies do not email customers for undeliverable packages. The following example comes from UPS, although scammers send fake emails from all of the major delivery services. The email notifies the customer that customs have blocked a package and asks them to click a link to resolve the issue. Source: cyberguy.com Scammers often send fake emails from major delivery services, asking for personal information or installing malware. To stay safe, avoid clicking links and go directly to the retailer’s or shipping company’s website. USPS has warned customers about these deceptive emails and texts, advising them to “Don’t click the link!” Fake messages There has been an increase in spam messages sent to cell phones. All these mysterious SMS require you to click a link for more information, verify details, or claim a refund. Naturally, they all gather your information, download malware of some kind, or scam you out of money somehow. This scam is used to collect personal information. A user who follows the link is asked to fill in the fields with personal data in order to confirm their identity and get their refund. Report a Scam Facebook farming on Black Friday One of the most common Black Friday social media scams is Facebook like-farming. In this type of fraud, scammers post fake giveaways or promotions to trick users into sharing personal information. These posts typically urge social media users to take quick action, such as sharing, commenting, or completing a survey, to claim a “special offer” or “exclusive pass.” For example, a fake post claimed Walmart was giving away a Black Friday Exclusive Pass. Users were asked to share the post, then take a survey collecting personal data, with some even asked to make purchases. Black Friday scams employed by retailers Some retailers are notorious for this scamming technique. Whereby, they inflate the original price, then mark it “on sale” to create the illusion of a big discount. According to a PissedConsumer survey, this deceptive practice is the reason why 21.5% of people said they might not shop this holiday season. They believe retailers manipulate prices around the holidays. For example, during 2023 Black Friday, Target faced backlash on social media for allegedly offering fake Black Friday deals, with a viral TikTok trend exposing price discrepancies. One example comes from DeJay Downey, who posted a TikTok video that reveals a few Black Friday tags on original prices, which are surprisingly the same. Source: tiktok.com Low-quality or nonexistent products Another scammy tactic by retailers is offering low-quality or cheaply made products and positioning them as a bargain. For example, in Keurig review #6536952, the customer complained that a coffee machine they bought on a Black Friday sale stopped working within 4 months. Got a Keurig coffee machine on a Black Friday sale and should have just left it be. It no longer turns on and I have tried all the steps to get it to reset and turn back on… Items that never arrive Another frustrating issue shoppers face during Black Friday is orders that never arrive. Sometimes delays happen due to overwhelming order volumes that result in inventory errors, payment glitches, or shipping delays. If that is the case, it is best to call the company to follow up on the order. However, consumer reviews indicate numerous cases where customers still do not get their order delivered, nor do they get a refund. For example, in review #6386769, the customer bought a Valabasas sweater, but they never received it. I've made chats and contacted you guys and everybody keeps saying it's because of the Black Friday sales and it will be here soon. It's been almost two months and I still haven't got it. Gift card scams Gift card scams are increasingly popular as they are essentially an easy way for scammers to steal money. Typically, scammers convince you to urgently purchase gift cards and then send them the activated codes. So, when you go to use it, you find that it has already been used or there is a lower balance than what was initially there. Often, when customers report these incidents, the gift card companies are not helpful. Such an incident was reported by one Vanilla gift customer in review #6907513: I was frauded and proved i was frauded but they refuse to let me have my money back don't ever buy a vanilla gift card cause if you get frauded and can approve it they don't care they will not help you be aware Refund scams Scammers may send emails claiming you're eligible for a refund, often posing as popular online stores or hotels. To spot a scam, check the subject line. If you haven’t returned anything, it's likely a scam. Legitimate refund emails usually contain specific details, not vague phrases like Wrong Transaction or Eligible for Refund. Instead, they should mention your actual order or product. For example, a fake PayPal email might show a suspicious transaction and offer a refund link. Clicking it takes you to a fake website that collects your personal and payment details. Fake shopping websites Some scammers go above and beyond to steal money and personal information. Many fake sites impersonate trustworthy retailers and well-known brands, hoping shoppers won’t notice small details. A site may look identical to a big-name store but will use a slightly altered web address or ask for direct wire payments. Once the transaction is made, the site disappears, and so does your money. How to Avoid Black Friday Scams With so many deals flooding your emails, messages, and social media feeds, it is easy to fall victim to fraud. Below are 5 Black Friday shopping safety tips. Avoid clicking on suspicious links Scammers often send fake links that mimic real retailer websites. To avoid falling for their gimmicks, visit the retailer’s or manufacturer’s websites and social media pages directly to check for any deals or offers. Buy from trusted vendors only While shopping on Black Friday, buy only from retailers you know and trust. Or shop in person so that you can examine the quality of the items before buying. Move cautiously Don’t get caught up in the excitement when you come across a 'too good to be true' Black Friday ad and make mistakes that would have been easy to avoid if you were looking carefully before buying. Scammers count on you rushing to act. Read reviews and check consumer reports There are customer reviews online that can be tremendously helpful in avoiding Black Friday scams. Entities like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also track scams and help warn customers about shady business practices. If it seems too good to be true, do a bit of research before entering personal or financial information. Report a scam If you unfortunately fall victim to a Black Friday scam, report it immediately to the FTC or report the issue to your state consumer protection office. For online scams, contact the platform directly (such as Facebook, Instagram, or Google) to flag fake ads or listings. You may also, write an online review describing the incident on reputable platforms such as PissedConsumer.com Are Black Friday Deals a Scam? There are many legitimate Black Friday deals, and most shoppers do save money. However, scammers take advantage of the hype to blend in their fake offers among genuine ones. Over the years, scammers have become more sophisticated in their tactics. This calls for heightened vigilance from customers to identify and avoid Black Friday fraud. If you are keen to shop Black Friday online, stay informed about the most common scams and observe shopping safety tips. If you’ve had a bad experience during Black Friday shopping, help others stay informed and avoid falling victim to similar tactics. Report a Scam