Black Friday 2025 is set to kick off tomorrow, November 28, marking the start of a major shopping weekend. This annual event is renowned for offering significant discounts on a wide range of products, from tech gadgets to fashion items and home appliances. While it presents a great opportunity to score deals and save money, it also attracts cybercriminals looking to exploit unsuspecting shoppers.
As the excitement builds around Black Friday, online scammers are known to employ various deceptive tactics to target consumers. To combat this, UK network O2 recently issued a warning about the surge in online attacks during this period, and now Amazon has also issued a cautionary alert.
In an email sent to users, Amazon highlighted the importance of staying vigilant during the busy shopping season, providing tips to identify impersonation scams where scammers pose as trusted companies to obtain sensitive information like personal details, financial data, or Amazon account credentials.
Amazon warns shoppers to be wary of common tactics used by cybercriminals during Black Friday, such as sending fake delivery notifications, prompting account updates, or creating fictitious issues that require immediate action. Falling for these ploys can lead to unwittingly sharing sensitive information that scammers can exploit for financial gain or unauthorized account access.
According to Amazon, prevalent scams in November include deceptive messages regarding delivery or account issues, misleading social media posts promoting unrealistically good deals, and requests for passwords or payment information through unofficial channels. Another tactic is sending unfamiliar links that direct customers to fake websites to verify account credentials.
To safeguard consumers during the shopping frenzy, Amazon has shared five essential rules to follow:
– Utilize the Amazon mobile app or website for all shopping activities and inquiries.
– Be cautious of requests for payments or payment details over the phone, as Amazon will never ask for these.
– Consider enabling 2-step verification for added account security.
– Enhance security by using a passkey for sign-ins.
– 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 shop through official platforms like Amazon.co.uk. Avoid clicking on unsolicited text or email links promising deals to steer clear of potential scams.
