Black Friday is traditionally a sale which kicks off the day after Thanksgiving in America, and it was introduced to the UK in 2010. Since then it has become a large part of the holiday season, often kicking off people’s holiday gift shopping. And unfortunately, when consumers are inundated with deals, sales and offers, scammers may see an opportunity to take advantage. Among all the fantastic deals stores are sharing, it’s easy to forget that you need to be careful when shopping online. <br> <br> This winter, with its cost-of-living crisis, it will be extra important to keep your wits about you. Most years, saving a few pounds would be nice, but not vital. This year, the sales may make the difference for people in not having to choose between Christmas gifts for their children, and heating their homes. Scammers will take advantage of people’s situations, and increase their efforts to get their hands on people’s hard earned money. But it is possible to stay safe online, as long as you keep a few key things in mind. <br> <br>
Don’t stress
You may have received emails with a countdown, encouraging you to take advantage of a great deal. While many legitimate businesses are using this tactic during a time-limited sale, it’s always worth taking a step back. Time pressure is one of the key things that scammers use, knowing that you’re more likely to be careless if you’re worried that your deal will expire before you have a chance to take advantage of it. <br> <br> When you see a great deal, stop to think if it seems reasonable. Or does it sound too good to be true? If so, it likely is. And if you’re speaking to a person and they start pressuring you to make a decision straight away, walk away from the conversation. Legitimate businesses who want to create a win-win situation with their customers will be happy to give you the time to think things over. <br> <br>
Look out for phishing emails
Businesses will send countless marketing emails over the weekend, with one deal better than the next. But be careful. Before you click on any links, there’s a few things you should check to make sure that the email is legitimate. Make sure that the email is sent from a legitimate domain, and not one that looks similar. Scammers will often send emails from similar domains like amaz0n.co.uk, for example, or amazon @ gmail.com. Make sure to read the email carefully to check if there’s spelling mistakes or anything else that seems off – scammers usually don’t proof read. <br> <br> You’ll also want to be mindful of communications from your bank. Scammers often pretend to be your bank alerting you to unknown charges, in order to gain access to your account. Stop to think. Is the domain the email was sent from correct? Are they asking you to do things that banks would never do, like provide your details in an email? <br> <br> For more advice on how to spot a phishing email, take a look at our top tips here. <br> <br>
Fake websites
Some scammers will go the extra mile and create a fake ecommerce website. It will look like a legitimate website that you can purchase products from, but once you input your banking details, scammers will have access to your account.
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Any legitimate website will have a lock icon next to the URL. When you click this icon, you can check that the details of the website’s security certificate match the URL. If it doesn’t have an icon, leave the website and don’t provide any of your details.
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Look out for phone scams
You may also receive fake phone calls from your bank, alleging that your account has been hacked, but don’t panic. Remember that your bank will never ask for your PIN or any codes via phone call. If you’re not sure if the person you’re speaking to is actually from your bank, hang up without providing them any details.
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Then, call the number on your bank’s website and let them know you’re concerned. Criminals can spoof a number to make it look like they’ve called you from your bank, so make sure that you don’t just hit redial, even if the number looks correct. If possible, you could even call your bank from a different phone.
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Most of all, don’t worry – if you have genuinely been a victim of fraud, your bank will not penalise you for taking an extra fifteen minutes to make sure you’re not falling victim to a scam.
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Text scams
Yet another scam to keep an eye out for in the coming weeks is text message scams. Scammers will often send you a fake delivery notification, saying they’ve attempted to deliver a parcel, but were unable to. If you know you’re expecting a parcel, it’s easy to forget to check if it’s legitimate before clicking any links.
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Sometimes, they’ll send you a text message saying you need to pay additional postage. And because it’s a small amount, it’s easy to forget to check. But if you give them your details, they’ll drain your bank account.
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To protect yourself from these scams, don’t click on unknown links. If you’re expecting a delivery and are not sure if there’s been an issue, you can go back to the email where you got your initial tracking information, and check via the correct website.
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Make sure to stay safe online and if you suspect a scam, call your bank or card provider and block your card. You can block your Caxton card on the app, or on our 24-hour lost and stolen helpline on 0333 123 1812 from the UK, or +44 207 201 0526 from outside the UK.