Black Friday: how to protect yourself from scammers

The Black Friday and Cyber Monday period always attracts buyers' attention with discounts, but at the same time it is a perfect opportunity for scammers to deceive gullible customers.

One of the most common ways to defraud is to sell non-existent goods. Fake sites that look like popular online stores promise huge discounts, but in fact they are created to steal your money or personal data.

How to protect yourself and make safe purchases online? The Information Security Team of Credit Agricole suggests paying attention to the most common issues.

How to recognize a fake website?

• Check the site domain. Unscrupulous sellers use addresses with errors in the name or unusual domains, such as .xyz, .top, .shop. Always check that the site name is spelled correctly and has a reliable domain, such as .ua or .com.ua.
• Take a good look at the contact information. A real online store always has a section with contacts and legal information. If there are no contacts or only a generic email address (for instance, Gmail) is indicated, this is a strong signal that the site may be fraudulent.
• Too big discounts should cause caution. Sales with discounts of 70-90% on branded goods look so attractive, but they can turn out to be a trap. Trustworthy stores rarely offer such huge discounts, even on Black Friday.
• Check the payment methods. Secure online stores use built-in payment tools with additional payment verification pages. If you are asked to make a direct transfer to a private individual's card or at least pay an advance before receiving the goods, you should consider all risks.

Is it possible to protect yourself from scammers when buying during the Black Friday period? The answer is yes. And here are some simple tips:

• Choose only verified and official sites.
• Don't click on suspicious links sent to you in letters or messages.
• Use antivirus software with the function of checking sites for fraud.
• Pay attention to all the details and be careful when shopping.

Keep in mind that attractive offers can hide danger. And the best protection is your prudence.

Enjoy your shopping, but remember that there's no such thing as a free lunch!