Next November 24, the long-awaited "Black Friday" arrives marking the beginning of a period of great consumption that is linked to the Christmas festivities and the January sales.
However, this period of offers also brings with it an increase in cyber threats, from phishing to vishing and sim swapping, which seek to capture private data and compromise consumer security.
Faced with this scenario, cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of following a series of tips to avoid the risks, scams and frauds that lurk during Black Friday. The main premise is not to rush and check carefully before making any online purchase.
One of the main indicators of possible scams is the temptation of prices that seem too good to be true. In addition, it is advisable to be alert for grammatical errors on web pages and be wary of sites that do not provide information about their physical addresses, telephone numbers or contact emails.
Given the growth of online shopping, the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), dependent on the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, highlights the importance of using the "official" websites of preferred stores. In this context, they have launched the campaign "
The public company Correos also joins the security advice, underlining the priority of protecting information and personal data during periods of high consumption. The usefulness of performing quick searches to find reviews and opinions from other users on unknown websites and to be wary of prices that are too low and suspicious offers is highlighted.
For its part, the American multinational cybersecurity company Fortinet also offers some advice to consumers to avoid falling into traps when purchasing:
Jorge Sanz, director of the U-Tad master's degree in Cybersecurity, emphasizes the importance of taking extreme precautions at key moments of massive purchases such as Black Friday, given the increase in cybercrimes during these dates. He provides a list of common cyber attacks, from fraudulent online stores to phishing, vishing, SIM card duplication, reverse bizum and identity theft.
In addition to vigilance against cyberattacks, specific recommendations are highlighted to avoid scams during online purchases. Security firm Bitdefender advises making sure your browser, apps and security software are updated to have the latest malware protection tools. Additionally, it is suggested to share only basic data online and avoid saving payment card information on platforms.
The firm also emphasizes the importance of strong and unique passwords, and the use of HTTPS in online purchases. Prevention, privacy and identity protection, both on computers and mobile devices, are essential to avoid falling into cybercriminal networks.
Comparing prices becomes a key strategy during Black Friday to avoid possible scams. Tools like CamelCamelCamel, deal checker, Idealo and Keepa allow consumers to track product price history and ensure they get real discounts. Given the possibility of artificially inflated discounts, these tools help verify the authenticity of offers.
As we say, on days like Black Friday scams increase and we must keep in mind the main risks detected.
These are some examples:
In conclusion, prudence, verification and price comparison are essential elements to avoid scams during Black Friday.
This period of offers, although exciting, can expose consumers to online risks, so following these cybersecurity tips will help you enjoy the offers safely and securely.
