Cyber Monday is a great time to shop, but it also means you need to be extra careful when checking out. Cyber criminals are working harder than ever to gain access to your personal information and money, especially during the shopping frenzies. Scams range from fake websites that look exactly like their real counterparts to emails you receive claiming you have won something or are owed a refund. With various types of scams across a range of platforms, cyber criminals are getting more clever and sneaky with fooling naive consumers. Keep reading to find out you can still get the best shopping deals without falling victim to scams.

What are the most common scams on Cyber Monday?

There are many kinds of scams common around Cyber Monday such as email or phone message phishing, fake online stores, and e-skimming. We recommend you keep an eye out for any suspicious-looking emails, text messages, apps, and stores. By heading directly to the brand’s online store or app, you’ll be able to avoid many scamming techniques we mentioned.

Safe online shopping tips for Cyber Monday

Do’s

• Shop from sites you know and trust, and go to the store directly from the search engine or social media, rather than through email or text message links
• Use strong, unique passwords on your online shopping accounts
• Keep an eye on your bank transactions to ensure they’ve all been authorised by you
• Only download retailer apps from trusted sources such as App Store, Google Play Store, Amazon App Store, etc.
• Use credit cards instead of debit cards wherever possible
• Choose third-party payments methods
• Use two-factor authentication for your payment if it’s available
• Read through your order confirmation, delivery notification, and other shopping emails thoroughly to check they’re legitimate
• Use secure websites (ensure they have a padlock symbol)
• Buy gift cards from legitimate stores

Don’ts

• Don’t shop while using public Wi-Fi as it could expose cyber criminals to your payment information and other personal details
• Avoid storing your payment details on shopping websites
• Don’t give out personal information unless it’s necessary (if you’re being asked for very personal details, beware it could be a scam)
• Don’t accept free online gifts
• Don’t open or click links on vague, suspicious-looking emails
• Don’t engage with random pop-ups
• Don’t be fooled by unbelievably cheap prices or an exorbitant amount of good reviews

We hope our tips help you shop safely online during Cyber Monday. For retailers, shopping scams are becoming more common and can affect both your customers and your business, so it’s best to be proactive to fight against cyber criminals. If you want to learn more about how you can protect your brand from digital threats such as phishing, social media brand impersonation, malicious apps, and brand abuse, consult with the digital brand protection experts – FraudWatch.