Beware of scammers, faked goods in ‘specials’
Leading up to Black Friday and the days following it, expect your inbox – both on your phone and email – to be flooded with “special offers” that don’t exist, leading you to fake websites where you will be prompted to part with your banking details to fraudsters.
Days like Black Friday present the perfect opportunity for cyber criminals, says regional sales director at US-based cybersecurity software provider Fortinet Doros Hadjizenonos.
If you fall for these phishing attacks you will not receive the goods you ordered – and could also become a victim of identity theft and have your bank accounts cleaned out by criminals, he says.
Phishing attacks can also be carried out through rogue mobile apps, which can also be used to mine for data or install ransomware. Be wary of unexpected invitations to install new apps on your mobile device, Hadjizenonos warns.
Chris Wood, the executive for card issuing and payments at Nedbank, says big shopping days like Black Friday are “fraught with dangers” as consumers who are caught up in scoring a good deal can so easily let down their guard and open themselves to being scammed.
“Many Black Friday deals require quick decisions if you don’t want to miss out, and this sense of urgency is exactly what gets cardholders into trouble, whether through overspending, neglecting basic card safety principles, or falling for scams,” Wood says.
To maximise the security of your debit and credit cards, Wood offers the following advice:
1. Protect yourself online. If an online offer seems too good to be true, it probably is;
2. Don’t click on links to go to shopping sites. Rather type in the web address;
3. Before you enter your card or other personal information on any site, look for the lock image in the toolbar and “https” (the ‘s’ stands for secure) in the web address;
4. Make sure you have the latest, updated antivirus software on your phone and PC;
5. Don’t ever do your online shopping or banking on a public or unsecured WiFi network;
6. Never give anyone your card;
7. Never write down your PIN code, or share it with anyone; and
8. Before shopping online, check the merchant’s payment mode. “Avoid sites that require direct payments from your bank, wire transfers, or untraceable forms of payment,” advises Hadjizenonos