Black Friday can help you stretch your holiday budget, but fake deals and messages can put your money and personal information at risk. Black Friday scams include fake shopping websites, delivery texts, impersonation messages and fraudulent gift card requests.
To help avoid Black Friday scams, verify unfamiliar sellers, check delivery updates directly, use unique passwords and review your account activity. These seven habits can help you spot warning signs without taking the enjoyment out of holiday shopping.
A deep discount isn’t proof of a scam, but an unusually low price deserves a closer look. Scammers can copy a retailer’s logo and advertise products they never intend to deliver.
Visit a retailer’s known website rather than following an unfamiliar ad. Check the web address for misspellings, review return policies and search the seller’s name with words like “complaint” or “scam.” Look at multiple sources instead of relying only on star ratings.
Fake delivery messages may say your package is delayed, your address is incomplete or you missed a delivery. Their goal is to lead you to a fraudulent website.
Check your order through the retailer’s official website or app. You can also enter your tracking number on the shipping company’s website. An unexpected message shouldn’t be your starting point for checking a delivery.
“Your account is locked” or “Confirm this purchase immediately” can sound convincing during a busy shopping weekend. Scammers use pressure to make verification feel like a delay you can’t afford.
Pause before responding. Open the company’s official app or use a trusted website to check whether there’s actually a problem. A countdown, familiar logo or alarming subject line isn’t enough to establish that a message is real.
Use a strong, unique password for each shopping account. Reusing passwords means that a problem with one account could put others at risk.
Turn on multi-factor authentication when available. It adds another verification step when you sign in. Give your email account the same attention, since it often receives password-reset messages for your other accounts. A password manager can help you keep track of different passwords.
An unexpected request to buy gift cards and hand over the redemption details is a warning sign. The person may pretend to be a retailer, someone you know or an organization you recognize.
Verify the request through a separate, trusted contact method. If you’ve already shared a card’s redemption details with a scammer, contact the gift card issuer right away and keep your receipt. Ask whether the funds can be recovered, but don’t assume recovery is guaranteed.
Keep order confirmations and receipts so you can compare purchases with your account activity. Look for unfamiliar transactions or duplicate charges, including small amounts you might otherwise overlook.
If something doesn’t match, contact your financial institution or card issuer promptly using a trusted number. If an order never arrives, your records can also help you explain the problem to the seller or dispute the charge when applicable.
A message that appears to come from a retailer or financial institution may still be an impersonation attempt. Don’t rely on the displayed sender name alone.
Use a phone number from your card, statement or the company’s official website. Avoid using contact details supplied in a suspicious message. If you’re concerned about your Red Canoe account, contact us through a trusted channel so we can help you determine your next step.
Unusually low prices, unfamiliar website addresses, urgent messages and unexpected payment requests are reasons to pause and verify before buying.
Contact your financial institution or payment provider promptly. Save receipts and messages, secure affected accounts and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.