This weekend marks the beginning of Black Friday 2025, starting tomorrow, November 28. Black Friday is renowned for offering significant discounts on various products such as tech gadgets, fashion items, and household appliances. It presents an excellent opportunity for consumers to secure great deals and save money. However, it also serves as a prime period for fraudulent activities.
Cybercriminals often take advantage of the Black Friday frenzy to target unsuspecting shoppers through various deceptive tactics. To address this issue, UK network O2 and Amazon have issued warnings regarding the increasing online threats.
Amazon, in an email communication seen by Mirror Online, cautioned users about impersonation scams where scammers pose as trusted entities to extract sensitive information like personal details, financial data, or Amazon account credentials.
Amazon highlighted several tactics employed by cybercriminals during Black Friday, including sending fake delivery notifications, prompting account updates, and creating false urgency to resolve non-existent issues. These scams can lead victims to disclose confidential information that scammers exploit for financial gain or unauthorized account access.
Some prevalent scams identified by Amazon in November include deceptive delivery or account messages, misleading social media posts advertising unrealistic deals, and requests for passwords or payment data via unofficial channels. Another scheme involves sending suspicious links directing users to fake websites for credential verification.
To navigate the shopping season safely, Amazon has shared five essential guidelines for consumers:
– Utilize the Amazon mobile app or website for all shopping activities, customer service, and account management.
– Be aware that Amazon will never request payments or payment details via phone calls.
– Enable 2-step verification on online accounts when available to enhance security.
– Enhance security and convenience by setting up a passkey for account access.
– Exercise caution when pressured to act urgently by potential scammers.
For those looking to capitalize on Black Friday discounts, it is crucial to remain vigilant and only make purchases through official platforms like Amazon.co.uk. Avoid engaging with unexpected text or email messages and refrain from clicking on suspicious links promising deals.